How to Say "volatile" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “volatile” is “explosivo” — use 'explosivo' when referring to a substance or situation that has the potential to explode or is highly reactive and dangerous..
explosivo
/ex-plo-SEE-bo//eksploˈsiβo/
Examples
Ten cuidado, ese gas es muy explosivo.
Be careful, that gas is very explosive.
Él tiene un carácter explosivo cuando está estresado.
He has a volatile temper when he is stressed.
La ciudad tuvo un crecimiento explosivo en diez años.
The city had sudden, rapid growth in ten years.
Matching the word it describes
Remember to change the ending to 'explosiva' if the person or thing you are describing is feminine, like 'una situación explosiva'.
Explosivo vs. Explotar
Mistake: “Using 'explosivo' when you mean the action of blowing up.”
Correction: Use 'explosivo' to describe a quality. Use the verb 'explotar' for the action itself.
inestable
/ee-nes-TAH-bleh//inesˈtaβle/
Examples
Esta mesa es un poco inestable.
This table is a bit shaky.
El clima está muy inestable hoy; podría llover en cualquier momento.
The weather is very unstable today; it could rain at any moment.
La situación política en la región sigue siendo inestable.
The political situation in the region remains unstable.
One Form for Everyone
This word ends in -e, which means it stays the same whether you are describing a masculine noun (el clima) or a feminine noun (la mesa).
Ser vs. Estar
Use 'ser' if something is naturally unstable (like a bad personality trait) and 'estar' if it's currently unstable (like the weather or a wobbly chair).
Don't use 'inestabla'
Mistake: “La silla está inestabla.”
Correction: La silla está inestable. Adjectives ending in -e don't change to -a for feminine things.
Explosivo vs. Inestable
Related Translations
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