Spanish vocabulary · Intermediate
How to Say Pollution in Spanish: Contaminación
Contaminación · noun (feminine) · kohn-tah-mee-nah-SYOHN
Pollution in Spanish is contaminación, a feminine noun referring to the introduction of harmful substances into the environment.
Contaminación is pronounced kohn-tah-mee-nah-SYOHN, with stress on the final syllable.
La contaminación del aire afecta la salud de millones de personas.
Air pollution affects the health of millions of people.
Pollution in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for pollution, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| contaminación | pollution | kohn-tah-mee-nah-SYOHN | Default, widely understood |
| polución | pollution | formal or scientific registers |
How Native Speakers Use Contaminación
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Environmental concern
El gobierno implementó nuevas leyes contra la contaminación industrial.
The government implemented new laws against industrial pollution.
Discussing environmental policy.
Water pollution
La contaminación del río obligó a cerrar varias playas.
The river pollution forced the closure of several beaches.
News reporting on water quality.
Urban daily life
Uso mascarilla porque la contaminación en esta ciudad es terrible.
I wear a mask because the pollution in this city is terrible.
Everyday conversation about city living.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Contaminación
Using masculine article
Incorrect: El contaminación es un problema grave.
Correct: La contaminación es un problema grave.
Contaminación is feminine and requires the article la.
Confusing with contaminar
Incorrect: Hay mucha contaminar en el lago.
Correct: Hay mucha contaminación en el lago.
Contaminar is the verb (to pollute); contaminación is the noun (pollution).
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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 Contaminación used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Pollution in Spanish
- How do you say pollution in Spanish?
- The standard translation is contaminación, which covers air, water, and soil pollution in all Spanish-speaking regions.
- What is the difference between contaminación and polución?
- While both words translate to pollution, contaminación is far more common in everyday speech and media, whereas polución tends to appear in formal scientific writing or can sometimes refer to nocturnal emission in some contexts.
- How do you say air pollution specifically?
- The phrase contaminación del aire or contaminación atmosférica is used for air pollution, with the latter being slightly more formal.