How to Say "sterile" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “sterile” is “estéril” — use this word when referring to land that cannot produce crops or plants, or when something is completely free of germs and bacteria, especially in medical or scientific contexts..
English → Spanish
estéril
adjectiveB1/B2general
Use this word when referring to land that cannot produce crops or plants, or when something is completely free of germs and bacteria, especially in medical or scientific contexts.
Examples
Después de muchos incendios, la tierra se volvió estéril.
After many fires, the land became barren.
impotente
/eem-po-TEN-teh//im.poˈten.te/
adjectiveB2medical
Use this word specifically when referring to a male's inability to achieve or maintain an erection, a biological and medical context related to procreation.
Examples
El paciente ha sido diagnosticado como impotente.
The patient has been diagnosed as impotent.
Medical context
In this specific meaning, the word is almost exclusively used for males and often in a clinical setting.
Estéril vs. Impotente
Learners often confuse 'estéril' and 'impotente' because both relate to the inability to reproduce. Remember that 'estéril' is used for infertility in general (people, animals, or even land), while 'impotente' specifically refers to male sexual dysfunction.
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.