Spanish Conversation · Level 57
74 words
Spanish word
carbón
Pronunciation
IPA/kaɾˈβon/
Meaning
- masculine nouncoal
Example
La central utiliza carbón para generar electricidad.
The plant uses coal to generate electricity.
More examples
¿Tienes carbón vegetal para la barbacoa?
Do you have charcoal for the barbecue?
Core concept
Black, solid fuel mined from underground.
Common phrases
carbón vegetal
charcoal
carbón activado
activated carbon
carbón para barbacoa
barbecue charcoal
Similar words
carbón vegetal: Light, porous fuel from charring wood that burns hot and gives steady heat for grilling.
leña: Logs or branches that burn in stoves and open fires to provide heat as traditional firewood.
briqueta: Dense blocks that are pressed from sawdust or small wood pieces and burn steadily as fuel.
Definition in Spanish
Sustancia negra y sólida que se extrae de la tierra y se utiliza como combustible, sobre todo en industrias y centrales eléctricas.
Word origin
From Latin carbo 'coal, charcoal' (carbonis), via medieval Spanish to modern carbón referring to the black mined fuel.
Usage tips
- Spanish carbón is often confused with English carbon (the chemical element), and charcoal for grilling is normally called carbón vegetal or carbón para barbacoa.
Other meanings
- charcoalnoun
Related words
- carbonizarcarbonizeverb
- carbonizacióncarbonizationnoun
- carbonillasootnoun