Inklingo

How to Say "sperm" in Spanish

English → Spanish

esperma

es-PER-mah/esˈpeɾma/

nounB1formal
Use 'esperma' when referring specifically to the male reproductive cell, the gamete, especially in scientific or medical contexts.
A microscopic illustration of a single human sperm cell, clearly showing the large head and the long, whip-like tail, against a simplified blue background.

Examples

El esperma humano contiene ADN.

Human sperm contains DNA.

El banco de esperma guarda muestras congeladas.

The sperm bank stores frozen samples.

El esperma es una célula muy pequeña y móvil.

Sperm is a very small, mobile cell.

Masculine Noun Ending in -a

Even though 'esperma' ends in -a, it is always a masculine noun. Make sure to use 'el' and not 'la': 'El esperma'.

Confusing Gender

Mistake: “La esperma es blanca.”

Correction: El esperma es blanco. (Remember, it's always masculine: el esperma.)

semen

/SEH-men//ˈsemen/

nounB1
Use 'semen' when referring to the seminal fluid ejaculated by males, which contains sperm and other substances, particularly in contexts related to reproduction or physiology.
A microscopic view of several small, white, tadpole-shaped cells swimming through a soft blue fluid.

Examples

El análisis de semen es un procedimiento médico.

Semen analysis is a medical procedure.

El semen es necesario para la reproducción.

Semen is necessary for reproduction.

El doctor analizó la muestra de semen.

The doctor analyzed the semen sample.

Gender and Number

This is a masculine noun. Even though it ends in '-en', you always use masculine articles like 'el' or 'un'.

Don't confuse with seeds

Mistake: “Using 'semen' when talking about planting a garden.”

Correction: Use 'semilla' for plant seeds. 'Semen' is strictly a biological term for humans and animals.

Esperma vs. Semen

Learners often confuse 'esperma' and 'semen' because English uses 'sperm' for both the cell and the fluid. Remember that 'esperma' is the cell, and 'semen' is the fluid containing the cells. Using 'esperma' for the fluid is less common and can sound overly technical or incorrect.

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