Spanish vocabulary · Intermediate
How to Say Vulnerable in Spanish: Vulnerable
Vulnerable · adjective · bool-neh-RAH-bleh
Vulnerable in Spanish is vulnerable, a cognate spelled identically to its English counterpart but pronounced differently. It describes someone or something susceptible to harm, whether physical, emotional, or social.
Vulnerable is pronounced bool-neh-RAH-bleh in Spanish, with the stress on the third syllable. The v is pronounced like a soft b, and the u is fully voiced.
Las personas mayores son más vulnerables a las enfermedades respiratorias.
Elderly people are more vulnerable to respiratory illnesses.
Vulnerable in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for vulnerable, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| vulnerable | vulnerable | bool-neh-RAH-bleh | Default, widely understood |
| indefenso | vulnerable | defenseless, helpless |
How Native Speakers Use Vulnerable
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Health context
Los niños pequeños son especialmente vulnerables a las infecciones.
Small children are especially vulnerable to infections.
A doctor explaining health risks for young patients.
Emotional openness
Ser vulnerable con los demás fortalece las relaciones.
Being vulnerable with others strengthens relationships.
Discussing emotional intelligence and interpersonal connections.
Environmental issue
Las costas del Caribe son vulnerables a los huracanes.
The Caribbean coasts are vulnerable to hurricanes.
Describing geographic susceptibility to natural disasters.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Vulnerable
Pronouncing it like English
Incorrect: Pronouncing it VUHL-nuh-ruh-bul.
Correct: Pronounce it bool-neh-RAH-bleh with Spanish vowels.
Despite the identical spelling, the Spanish pronunciation places stress on the third syllable and uses pure Spanish vowel sounds.
Making it agree incorrectly
Incorrect: Los animales son vulnerablos a los depredadores.
Correct: Los animales son vulnerables a los depredadores.
Vulnerable ends in -e and does not change form for masculine or feminine; the plural is vulnerables for both genders.
Lock in Vulnerable Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Vulnerable used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Vulnerable in Spanish
- How do you say vulnerable in Spanish?
- Vulnerable is spelled the same way in both languages but pronounced bool-neh-RAH-bleh in Spanish, with stress on the third syllable.
- Does vulnerable change form for gender?
- Vulnerable is the same for both masculine and feminine nouns in Spanish — you say el grupo vulnerable and la población vulnerable without any change to the adjective.
- What is the noun form of vulnerable in Spanish?
- The noun is vulnerabilidad, meaning vulnerability, as in la vulnerabilidad de la infraestructura (the vulnerability of the infrastructure).