How to Say "stimulant" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “stimulant” is “estimulante” — use 'estimulante' when referring to any substance or thing that generally increases activity, like caffeine in beverages or a motivational speech.
estimulante
es-tee-moo-LAHN-tehestimuˈlante
Examples
La cafeína es un estimulante natural.
Caffeine is a natural stimulant.
El gobierno ofreció un estimulante para las pequeñas empresas.
The government offered a booster/incentive for small businesses.
Muchos atletas tienen prohibido el uso de estimulantes.
Many athletes are forbidden from using stimulants.
Gender of the substance
When referring to a substance or a chemical, 'estimulante' is almost always masculine ('el estimulante').
Don't confuse with 'estímulo'
Mistake: “El perro respondió al estimulante.”
Correction: El perro respondió al estímulo. Use 'estímulo' for a specific signal or trigger, and 'estimulante' for a substance like caffeine.
excitante
ehk-see-TAHN-teheɡsiˈtante
Examples
El café es un excitante del sistema nervioso.
Coffee is a stimulant for the nervous system.
Buscar un nuevo excitante es una tendencia humana.
Searching for a new thrill is a human tendency.
Using the Adjective as a Noun
When you put an article (like 'el' or 'un') in front of 'excitante,' it stops being a describing word and becomes the name of the thing itself: 'el excitante' means 'the stimulating thing' or 'the stimulant.'
Estimulante vs. Excitante
Related Translations
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