Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Science in Spanish: Ciencia — A Cognate You Already Almost Know
Ciencia · noun · SYEHN-syah
Science in Spanish is ciencia. It is one of the friendliest cognates for English speakers — the Latin root scientia gives both languages their word. You will encounter ciencia in classrooms, news reports, and everyday conversation.
Ciencia is pronounced SYEHN-syah. The ci produces an 's' sound in Latin American Spanish and a 'th' sound (like thin) in most of Spain.
La ciencia ha transformado nuestra forma de vivir.
Science has transformed the way we live.
Science in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for science, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| ciencia | science | SYEHN-syah | Default, widely understood |
| ciencias | science | plural, as in school subject or fields |
How Native Speakers Use Ciencia
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
School subject
Mi materia favorita en la escuela es ciencias naturales.
My favorite subject in school is natural sciences.
In education, ciencias (plural) is commonly used when referring to the school subject.
General statement
La ciencia nos ayuda a entender el mundo que nos rodea.
Science helps us understand the world around us.
Broad philosophical or conversational usage.
Compound term
Ella estudia ciencias de la computación en la universidad.
She studies computer science at the university.
Ciencias de la computación is the standard term for computer science in most of Latin America.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Ciencia
Spelling it ciéncia
Incorrect: Me encanta estudiar la ciéncia.
Correct: Me encanta estudiar la ciencia.
Ciencia does not carry a written accent. The stress naturally falls on the first syllable (SYEHN-syah), following standard Spanish stress rules for words ending in a vowel.
Using singular for the school subject
Incorrect: Tengo clase de ciencia a las diez.
Correct: Tengo clase de ciencias a las diez.
When referring to the school subject or academic discipline, Spanish typically uses the plural ciencias (as in ciencias naturales or ciencias sociales). The singular ciencia is used for the general concept of science.
Lock in Science 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 Ciencia used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using ciencia in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear La ciencia ha transformado nuestra forma de vivir. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Science in Spanish
- Is ciencia masculine or feminine?
- Ciencia is feminine: la ciencia. All related forms follow this gender — la ciencia ficción (science fiction), las ciencias sociales (social sciences).
- How do I say scientist in Spanish?
- Scientist is científico (masculine) or científica (feminine). El científico publicó sus resultados means The scientist published his results.
- What is the difference between ciencia and conocimiento?
- Ciencia refers to the systematic, methodical pursuit of knowledge — what we call science. Conocimiento means knowledge in the broader sense, including personal knowledge and awareness. You could say La ciencia genera conocimiento (Science generates knowledge).