How to Say "partial" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “partial” is “parcial” — use 'parcial' when referring to something that is only partly completed or existing, like a partial eclipse, a partial payment, or a partial view.
parcial
par-syalpaɾˈsjal
Examples
Hubo un eclipse parcial de sol ayer.
There was a partial solar eclipse yesterday.
El proyecto tuvo un éxito parcial.
The project had partial success.
One Form for Both
This word doesn't change based on gender. You can use it with both 'el' (masculine) and 'la' (feminine) words without changing the ending.
Don't say 'parciale'
Mistake: “Un éxito parciale.”
Correction: Un éxito parcial. The word naturally ends in 'l' and doesn't need an extra 'e' added to it.
incompleto
een-kohm-pleh-tohiŋkomˈpleto
Examples
El rompecabezas está incompleto porque le falta una pieza.
The puzzle is incomplete because it's missing a piece.
Entregué un informe incompleto por falta de tiempo.
I submitted an unfinished report due to a lack of time.
Sus datos están incompletos; necesitamos su dirección actual.
Your data is incomplete; we need your current address.
Matching the Noun
This word changes its ending to match the thing it describes. Use 'incompleto' for masculine nouns like 'el libro' and 'incompleta' for feminine nouns like 'la tarea'.
Using with 'Estar'
Usually, we use this word with the verb 'estar' (to be) because being unfinished is often seen as a temporary state rather than a permanent characteristic.
Forgetting the Gender Change
Mistake: “La lista está incompleto.”
Correction: Say 'La lista está incompleta' because 'lista' is feminine (ends in 'a').
Word Order
Mistake: “Un incompleto álbum.”
Correction: In Spanish, the describing word (adjective) usually comes after the thing it describes. Say 'Un álbum incompleto'.
Parcial vs. Incompleto
Related Translations
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