Spanish Conversation · Level 24
88 words
Spanish word
gen
Pronunciation
IPA/xen/
Meaning
- masculine noungene
Example
Los genes se heredan de los padres.
Genes are inherited from their parents.
More examples
Mi abuelo toca el piano desde joven; parece que lo lleva en los genes.
My grandfather has played the piano since he was young; it seems that he has it in his genes.
Core concept
Discrete hereditary unit that can affect physical or biochemical traits.
Common phrases
llevar en los genes
have it in one's genes
pruebas de genes
genetic tests
Similar words
ADN: Long biomolecule that encodes genetic information for cellular function.
cromosoma: Threadlike body composed of DNA and proteins that contains many genes.
rasgo: Observable feature or habitual tendency that helps identify a person.
herencia: Transmission of biological traits and tendencies across generations.
Definition in Spanish
Unidad mínima de información hereditaria que se transmite de padres a hijos y que puede influir en rasgos físicos o bioquímicos.
Word origin
From Greek genos 'origin, lineage', the word entered scientific usage in the early 1900s and is rendered in Spanish as gen.
Usage tips
- In conversation speakers often use es genético or es por los genes to indicate inherited tendencies, so context matters when a statement is medical versus colloquial.