Spanish Conversation · Level 41
75 words
Spanish word
volátil
Pronunciation
IPA/boˈlatil/
Meaning
- adjectiveunstable
Example
El clima es volátil hoy.
The weather is unstable today.
More examples
La situación en la oficina fue volátil después del anuncio.
The situation in the office was volatile after the announcement.
Core concept
A feather drifting unpredictably in shifting gusts.
Common phrases
ánimo volátil
fickle mood
situación volátil
volatile situation
Similar words
inestable: Lacks stability and easily shifts from one state to another.
cambiante: Changes frequently over time or across situations.
impredecible: Cannot be predicted; future actions or outcomes are not foreseeable.
variable: Changes depending on conditions or factors, often in measurable ways.
Definition in Spanish
Que cambia con facilidad o que no se mantiene en un estado fijo; se aplica a personas, estados, situaciones o cosas que varían rápidamente.
Word origin
From Latin volatilis, from volare 'to fly', originally meaning 'able to fly' and later used metaphorically for things that change or move easily.
Usage tips
- In casual speech, speakers often prefer inestable or cambiante for everyday unstable while volátil appears more in writing or to emphasize sudden rapid change.
Other meanings
- changeableadjective
- fickleadjective
- volatileadjective
Opposites
- establestableadjective
- predeciblepredictableadjective
Related words
- volatilidadinstabilitynoun