How to Say "powerful" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “powerful” is “fuerte” — use 'fuerte' when 'powerful' refers to physical strength, robustness, or resilience..
fuerte
/FWER-teh//ˈfweɾte/
Examples
Mi hermano es muy fuerte, levanta pesas todos los días.
My brother is very strong, he lifts weights every day.
Necesitamos una cuerda más fuerte para escalar.
We need a stronger rope to climb.
Same for Masculine & Feminine
Good news! 'Fuerte' doesn't change for masculine or feminine things. You say 'el hombre fuerte' (the strong man) and 'la mujer fuerte' (the strong woman). It only changes for plural: 'los hombres fuertes'.
'Ser' vs. 'Estar' Fuerte
Mistake: “Using 'ser' when you mean someone is looking physically fit right now.”
Correction: Use 'ser fuerte' for someone's general character or nature (He is a strong person). Use 'estar fuerte' to say someone is physically fit or looks muscular (Wow, you're looking strong!).
poderoso
poh-deh-ROH-soh/poðeˈɾoso/
Examples
El presidente es un hombre muy poderoso en este país.
The president is a very powerful man in this country.
Las olas del océano eran poderosas después de la tormenta.
The ocean waves were mighty/powerful after the storm.
La empresa tecnológica se ha convertido en una fuerza poderosa en el mercado global.
The technology company has become a powerful force in the global market.
Adjective Agreement
Remember that 'poderoso' must match the noun it describes in gender and number. Examples: 'mujer poderosa' (powerful woman), 'ejércitos poderosos' (powerful armies).
Using 'poder' instead of 'poderoso'
Mistake: “La nación es mucho poder.”
Correction: La nación es muy poderosa. ('Poder' means 'power' or 'to be able to'; 'poderoso' is the description, the adjective.)
Physical Strength vs. Influence
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