Inklingo

How to Say "outflow" in Spanish

English → Spanish

derrame

/deh-rrah-meh//deˈrame/

nounB1general
Use 'derrame' for a physical spill or leakage of liquid or other substances.
A glass of milk tipped over on a table with a white puddle spreading around it.

Examples

Hubo un derrame de aceite en la cocina.

There was an oil spill in the kitchen.

El derrame de petróleo afectó a las aves marinas.

The oil spill affected the sea birds.

Pusimos arena sobre el derrame para que nadie se resbalara.

We put sand on the spill so no one would slip.

Masculine 'E' Noun

Even though many words ending in 'e' can be tricky, 'derrame' is always masculine (el derrame).

Using 'Derrame' for rain

Mistake:Hubo un derrame de lluvia.

Correction: Hubo una lluvia fuerte. 'Derrame' usually implies an accident or something escaping a container.

hemorragia

eh-moh-RRAH-hee-ah/emoˈrraxja/

nounB2figurative
Use 'hemorragia' to describe a significant and often detrimental outflow of abstract things like money, capital, or people.
An oversized brown sack tipped over, with a massive, continuous stream of gold coins and green paper money spilling out onto the floor, symbolizing massive financial loss.

Examples

La crisis económica provocó una hemorragia de capitales hacia el extranjero.

The economic crisis caused a massive outflow of capital abroad.

El departamento sufrió una hemorragia de talento cuando los mejores ingenieros renunciaron.

The department suffered a drain of talent when the best engineers resigned.

Figurative Use

Just like in English, 'hemorragia' can be used metaphorically to describe any huge, uncontrollable stream of loss—not just blood, but money, people, or resources.

Physical Spill vs. Abstract Loss

Learners often confuse 'derrame' and 'hemorragia' by using 'derrame' for abstract outflows. Remember that 'derrame' is for physical spills, while 'hemorragia' is for the uncontrolled loss of money, people, or other abstract resources.

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