Inklingo

How to Say "poison" in Spanish

English → Spanish

veneno

veh-NEH-nohbeˈne.no

NounA2General
Use 'veneno' when referring to a substance that is known to be deadly or cause severe illness, especially if it's something someone might ingest or be exposed to with harmful intent.
A small, clear glass vial filled with glowing, vibrant emerald green liquid, suggesting poison.

Examples

¡Cuidado! Esa seta es un veneno mortal.

Be careful! That mushroom is a deadly poison.

Necesitas un antídoto rápido, ¡esto es veneno!

You need a quick antidote, this is poison!

La serpiente cascabel tiene un veneno muy potente.

The rattlesnake has very powerful venom.

Hay que guardar los productos de limpieza lejos de los niños, son veneno.

We must keep the cleaning products away from children, they are poison.

Gender Check

Remember that 'veneno' is a masculine noun, so always use 'el' or 'un' before it: 'El veneno es peligroso'.

toxina

toh-KSEE-nahtokˈsina

NounB1General/Scientific
Use 'toxina' when talking about harmful substances produced by living organisms, such as bacteria or plants, or when referring to the body's natural detoxification processes.
A bright red mushroom with white spots in a forest, illustrating a natural source of poison.

Examples

El hígado ayuda a neutralizar las toxinas del cuerpo.

The liver helps neutralize toxins in the body.

El cuerpo elimina las toxinas de forma natural.

The body eliminates toxins naturally.

Beber mucha agua ayuda a limpiar las toxinas.

Drinking a lot of water helps to clear out toxins.

Algunas bacterias producen una toxina muy fuerte.

Some bacteria produce a very strong toxin.

Always Feminine

The word 'toxina' is always feminine, even if the toxin itself comes from something masculine. You should always use 'la' or 'una' with it.

Noun vs. Adjective

Remember that 'toxina' is the 'thing' (a noun). If you want to describe something as being harmful, use the adjective 'tóxico' or 'tóxica'.

Confusing 'Toxin' with 'Toxic'

Mistake:Esta comida tiene mucho tóxico.

Correction: Esta comida tiene muchas toxinas.

Veneno vs. Toxina

Learners often confuse 'veneno' and 'toxina'. Remember that 'veneno' is the go-to for anything intended to harm or kill, like a snake bite or a poisoned drink. 'Toxina' is more for biological or medical contexts, like toxins produced by bacteria or the body's own waste products.

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