Spanish word

química

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈkimika/

Meaning

  • feminine nounchemistry

Example

Estudio química en la universidad.

I study chemistry at the university.

Illustration for química (chemistry)

More examples

Mi hermano tiene clase de química hoy.

My brother has chemistry class today.

Core concept

Science of substances, their composition and transformations.

Common phrases

  • tener clase de química

    have chemistry class

  • estudiante de química

    chemistry student

Similar words

ciencia: Branch of knowledge using observation and experiment to understand nature.
especialidad: Subject area pursued as a formal specialization within higher education.
investigación: Planned study and experiments conducted to generate or verify scientific findings.

Definition in Spanish

La química es la disciplina que investiga la composición, la estructura y las transformaciones de la materia.

Word origin

From Arabic al-kīmiyāʾ through medieval Latin alchimia, originally meaning alchemy and later used for the modern science that studies matter and its changes.

Usage tips

  • Tener química is an everyday idiom meaning personal rapport rather than literal study of substances, so context determines whether someone speaks of people or the subject.

Other meanings

  • chemistnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word