How to Say "phenomenon" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “phenomenon” is “fenómeno” — use 'fenómeno' for a general natural or observable event, especially in scientific or common discourse about something noteworthy..
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fenómeno
nounB1General
Use 'fenómeno' for a general natural or observable event, especially in scientific or common discourse about something noteworthy.
Examples
El fenómeno de El Niño afecta el clima global.
The El Niño phenomenon affects the global climate.
efecto
eh-FEK-toh/eˈfekto/
nounB2General
Use 'efecto' when referring to a specific, observable outcome or result, often in a technical or applied context, like sound or visual elements.
Examples
Necesitamos mejores efectos de sonido para la película.
We need better sound effects for the movie.
El telescopio detectó el efecto gravitacional.
The telescope detected the gravitational effect.
Fenómeno vs. Efecto
Learners often confuse 'fenómeno' and 'efecto' by using 'efecto' for general observable events. Remember, 'fenómeno' is the broader term for an occurrence, while 'efecto' typically signifies a consequence or a specific sensory input.
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