Spanish Conversation · Level 92
60 words
Spanish word
extinción
Pronunciation
IPA/ekstinˈθjon/
Meaning
- feminine nounextinction
Example
La extinción de los dinosaurios ocurrió hace millones de años.
The extinction of the dinosaurs occurred millions of years ago.
More examples
Muchas especies están en riesgo de extinción por la pérdida de hábitat.
Many species face the risk of extinction due to habitat loss.
Core concept
A final putting-out that leaves something completely gone.
Common phrases
la extinción de especies
extinction of species
el riesgo de extinción
risk of extinction
la extinción masiva
mass extinction
Similar words
desaparición: Disappearance of a person, thing, or occurrence, removed from view or awareness.
pérdida: Loss resulting in no longer having something, such as property, ability, or position.
Definition in Spanish
Indica la desaparición completa de algo; en biología, la pérdida de todos los individuos de una especie.
Word origin
From Latin exstinctio, via exstinctus, the past participle of exstinguere whose ex- means 'out' and stinguere 'to quench', giving the image of extinguishing as total disappearance.
Usage tips
- In scientific or legal contexts Spanish adds a modifier (extinción de la especie, extinción del contrato) to specify meaning, the ó must be written, and the plural is extinciones without an accent.
Other meanings
- disappearancenoun
- extinguishingnoun
Opposites
- conservaciónconservationnoun
- supervivenciasurvivalnoun