Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Chemistry in Spanish: Química — From the Lab to the Heart
Química · noun (feminine) · KEE-mee-kah
Chemistry in Spanish is química (KEE-mee-kah), a feminine noun used for the scientific discipline as well as the intangible spark between people. When talking about a school subject, you'd say la clase de química. When describing a connection with someone, you'd say hay química entre ellos. The adjective form is químico/a, also used as a noun meaning 'chemist.'
KEE-mee-kah — three syllables, stress on the first. The qu sounds like an English k, never like kw. The accent mark on the í confirms the stress on the first syllable.
La química fue mi materia favorita en la secundaria.
Chemistry was my favorite subject in high school.
Chemistry in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for chemistry, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| química | chemistry | KEE-mee-kah | Default, widely understood |
| química interpersonal | chemistry | interpersonal chemistry / romantic spark |
How Native Speakers Use Química
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Academic subject
Tengo un examen de química orgánica el viernes.
I have an organic chemistry exam on Friday.
School subjects in Spanish don't require a capital letter: química, biología, matemáticas.
Interpersonal chemistry
Desde la primera cita hubo mucha química entre nosotros.
From the first date there was a lot of chemistry between us.
Used figuratively just like in English to describe a natural connection or spark between people.
Professional chemist
Mi tía es química industrial y trabaja en un laboratorio.
My aunt is an industrial chemist and works in a laboratory.
Químico (masculine) / química (feminine) doubles as the noun for a person who works in chemistry.
Chemical reaction
La química detrás de la fermentación es fascinante.
The chemistry behind fermentation is fascinating.
Here química refers to the underlying science of a process, not a school subject.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Química
Pronouncing the u in qu
Incorrect: KWEE-mee-kah
Correct: KEE-mee-kah
In Spanish, qu always sounds like a hard k — the u is silent. This applies to all qu- words: queso (KEH-soh), quién (KYEHN).
Forgetting the accent mark
Incorrect: quimica (flat pronunciation)
Correct: química (stress on the first syllable)
Without the written accent, a Spanish reader would stress the second-to-last syllable by default (qui-MI-ca), which sounds unnatural. The tilde on the í marks it as an esdrújula word.
Lock in Chemistry Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Química used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using química in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear La química fue mi materia favorita en la secundaria. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Chemistry in Spanish
- How do you say chemistry in Spanish?
- Chemistry is química (KEE-mee-kah). It works for the science, the school subject, and the figurative sense of personal chemistry. The person who practices it is un químico or una química.
- Can química mean romantic chemistry in Spanish?
- Absolutely — 'Hay química entre ellos' means 'There's chemistry between them,' mirroring the English figurative usage perfectly. This metaphorical sense is completely natural in everyday speech across all Spanish-speaking countries.
- What is the difference between química and químico?
- Química is the science (noun, feminine) and also a female chemist. Químico is a male chemist (noun, masculine) or the adjective meaning 'chemical' — as in un producto químico (a chemical product). Context makes the meaning clear.