célula
/ˈθelula/feminine
The English word cell is translated into Spanish as célula.
célula is a noun used to refer to the basic unit of a living organism.
Meaning: basic unit of a living organism (noun)
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between biological cells and other types of cells. While célula refers to a biological cell, celda refers to a prison cell or a small compartment in a grid/honeycomb.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of célula is células.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈθelula/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use celda when they mean a biological célula.
Did you know?
- While English speakers use 'cell' for both biology and mobile phones, Spanish speakers use célula only for biology and a completely different word, móvil or celular, for the device.
- Spanish has a specific term for the 'stem cell', célula madre, which literally translates to 'mother cell'.
- The word célula shares its distant roots with the English word 'cellar', as both derive from the idea of a small, enclosed space or room.
Examples in context
- Un huevo es una célula.An egg is a cell.This sentence is useful for showing that an egg is a célula.Tatoeba #979537 by hayastan, translation #1423399 by marcelostockle
- El porcentaje de lípidos en la célula animal es de aproximadamente el ocho por ciento.The percentage of lipids in an animal cell is about 8%.This sentence is useful for discussing the percentage of lipids in an animal célula.Tatoeba #1390111 by hayastan, translation #1691355 by aka_aj
- Los niveles de organización biológica pueden ser citados en el siguiente orden: átomo, molécula, orgánulo, célula, tejido, órgano, sistema, organismo, población, comunidad, ecosistema y biosfera.The levels of organization in Biology can be arranged in the following order: atom, molecule, organelle, cell, tissue, organ, system, organism, population, community, ecosystem and biosphere.This sentence is useful for illustrating the biological levels of organization where a célula is mentioned.Tatoeba #1361107 by hayastan, translation #2749795 by mervert1
- Necesito comprar un teléfono móvil nuevoI need to buy a new cell phone
- Por favor, asegúrese de apagar su teléfono celular durante el vueloPlease make sure to turn off your cell phone during the flight
- Mi celular se quedó sin bateríaMy cell phone ran out of battery
- ¿Dónde dejé mi móvil?Where did I leave my cell phone?
- ¡No puedo creer que me dejé el teléfono en casa!I can't believe I left my cell phone at home!
- El móvil se ha convertido en una herramienta imprescindible en nuestra vida diaria.The cell phone has become an essential tool in our daily lives.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are studying biology in a classroom.
- ElenaMira esta célula en el microscopio.Look at this cell in the microscope.
- JavierEs increíble cómo funciona cada célula.It is incredible how each cell works.
- ElenaSí, es la unidad básica de la vida.Yes, it is the basic unit of life.
- JavierTienes razón, Elena.You are right, Elena.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cell” translations and entries célula, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries célula, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
