Spanish for Scientists: Key Vocabulary for Research and Publications


¡Hola, científicos! In our increasingly interconnected world, the ability to communicate across languages is a superpower, especially in the realm of scientific research. Whether you're collaborating with international colleagues, attending conferences in Spanish-speaking countries, or aiming to publish your groundbreaking findings in a wider array of journals, a solid grasp of Spanish for scientists can significantly broaden your horizons.

Beyond basic conversational phrases, mastering key vocabulary specific to research and publication will empower you to articulate complex ideas with precision and confidence. Think of this as your essential linguistic toolkit for the lab, the field, and the library.

Let's dive into some of the most important Spanish terms that will help you navigate the scientific landscape with greater ease.

I. General Research & Laboratory Terms (Términos Generales de Investigación y Laboratorio)

These words are your everyday companions in the scientific world.

  • Investigación: Research
  • Científico/a: Scientist (m/f)
  • Experimento: Experiment
  • Hipótesis: Hypothesis
  • Variable: Variable
  • Dato/s: Data (singular/plural)
  • Análisis: Analysis
  • Método: Method
  • Resultados: Results
  • Conclusión: Conclusion
  • Estudio: Study
  • Teoría: Theory
  • Observación: Observation
  • Medición: Measurement
  • Muestra: Sample
  • Equipamiento / Equipo: Equipment
  • Laboratorio: Laboratory / Lab
  • Microscopio: Microscope
  • Tubo de ensayo: Test tube
  • Vaso de precipitados: Beaker
  • Matraz: Flask
  • Pipeta: Pipette
  • Centrífuga: Centrifuge
  • Reactivo: Reagent
  • Solución: Solution
  • Disolvente: Solvent
  • Sustancia: Substance
  • Compuesto: Compound
  • Químico/a: Chemical (adj.), Chemist (noun m/f)
  • Físico/a: Physical (adj.), Physicist (noun m/f)
  • Biólogo/a: Biologist (m/f)
  • Ingeniero/a: Engineer (m/f)
  • Desarrollo: Development
  • Tecnología: Technology

II. Scientific Actions & Processes (Acciones y Procesos Científicos)

These verbs and nouns describe what you do as a scientist.

  • Realizar / Llevar a cabo: To carry out / To conduct (an experiment/study)
  • Medir: To measure
  • Observar: To observe
  • Analizar: To analyze
  • Calcular: To calculate
  • Comparar: To compare
  • Demostrar: To demonstrate / To prove
  • Describir: To describe
  • Desarrollar: To develop
  • Diseñar: To design
  • Establecer: To establish
  • Evaluar: To evaluate
  • Identificar: To identify
  • Interpretar: To interpret
  • Investigar: To investigate / To research
  • Obtener: To obtain / To get
  • Predecir: To predict
  • Probar / Demostrar: To test / To prove
  • Recopilar (datos): To collect (data)
  • Registrar: To record
  • Simular: To simulate
  • Sintetizar: To synthesize
  • Verificar: To verify
  • Aislar: To isolate
  • Filtrar: To filter
  • Calentar: To heat
  • Enfriar: To cool

III. Data & Statistical Terms (Términos de Datos y Estadísticas)

Understanding and presenting your numbers is critical.

  • Promedio: Average
  • Media: Mean
  • Mediana: Median
  • Moda: Mode
  • Desviación estándar: Standard deviation
  • Significancia estadística: Statistical significance
  • Gráfico / Gráfica: Graph / Chart
  • Tabla: Table
  • Figura: Figure (e.g., in a publication)
  • Distribución: Distribution
  • Correlación: Correlation
  • Regresión: Regression
  • Muestra (estadística): Sample (statistical)
  • Población (estadística): Population (statistical)
  • Error: Error
  • Precisión: Precision
  • Exactitud: Accuracy
  • Modelo: Model
  • Tendencia: Trend
  • Representación: Representation

IV. Publication & Communication Terms (Términos de Publicación y Comunicación)

Share your science with the world!

  • Artículo científico: Scientific article / Paper
  • Publicación: Publication
  • Revista (científica): (Scientific) Journal
  • Manuscrito: Manuscript
  • Autor/a: Author (m/f)
  • Coautor/a: Co-author (m/f)
  • Resumen / Abstract: Abstract
  • Introducción: Introduction
  • Metodología: Methodology
  • Discusión: Discussion
  • Conclusiones: Conclusions
  • Referencias: References
  • Palabras clave: Keywords
  • Cita: Citation
  • Citado por: Cited by
  • Revisión por pares: Peer review
  • Editor/a: Editor (m/f)
  • Revisor/a: Reviewer (m/f)
  • Congreso / Conferencia: Congress / Conference
  • Presentación: Presentation
  • Póster: Poster
  • Ponencia: Paper / Presentation (at a conference)
  • Discurso: Speech
  • Divulgación científica: Science communication / Popular science
  • Colaboración: Collaboration
  • Financiación: Funding
  • Becario/a: Fellow / Grant recipient (m/f)
  • Subvención: Grant / Subsidy

V. Essential Adjectives & Adverbs (Adjetivos y Adverbios Esenciales)

These words add precision and nuance to your scientific descriptions.

  • Significativo/a: Significant
  • Preciso/a: Precise
  • Exacto/a: Accurate
  • Fiable / Confiable: Reliable
  • Replicable: Replicable
  • Consistente: Consistent
  • Aleatorio/a: Random
  • Controlado/a: Controlled
  • Específico/a: Specific
  • General: General
  • Crítico/a: Critical
  • Fundamental: Fundamental
  • Evidente: Evident
  • Emergente: Emerging
  • Reciente: Recent
  • Próximo/a: Upcoming / Next
  • Adicionalmente: Additionally
  • Consecuentemente: Consequently
  • Además: Furthermore / Moreover
  • Por lo tanto: Therefore
  • Sin embargo: However
  • No obstante: Nevertheless
  • En contraste: In contrast
  • Debido a: Due to
  • Gracias a: Thanks to
  • Según: According to

Why Mastering This Vocabulary Matters

Knowing these terms goes beyond simple translation. It allows you to:

  • Read and comprehend scientific literature in Spanish.
  • Participate effectively in discussions with Spanish-speaking colleagues.
  • Present your research at international conferences with clarity.
  • Write abstracts and even full papers for Spanish-language scientific journals, expanding your reach.
  • Collaborate more deeply with researchers from Spanish-speaking countries.

Learning Spanish for scientists is an ongoing journey, but by building a strong foundation with this key vocabulary, you're well on your way to becoming a more globally connected and impactful researcher. ¡Buena suerte con su investigación! (Good luck with your research!)

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