denso
/ˈdenso/
The English word 'dense' is translated into Spanish as denso.
denso is used to describe things that are compact or crowded together, such as a forest or a cloud. Much like in English, it can also be used figuratively to describe a person who is slow to understand or 'thick'.
Meaning: compact, crowded together (adj)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, the informal term empanado/a is used to mean 'dense' or 'slow-witted'. In Mexico, the informal term zopenco/a is used to describe someone who is foolish or slow-witted.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, denso must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use denso for masculine singular nouns, densa for feminine singular nouns, densos for masculine plural nouns and densas for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈdenso/
Did you know?
- In Argentina, someone who is 'dense' or spaced out is called empanado, a word derived from empanada, suggesting their brain is wrapped in dough.
- While denso describes a slow person in some contexts, Spanish speakers often use the phrase ser un tronco meaning 'to be a log' to describe someone similarly 'dense' or stiff.
- The Spanish word pesado, which literally means 'heavy', is the common way to describe a person who is 'dense' in the sense of being boring or tedious.
Examples in context
- Se formaron densos nubarrones.Dense clouds formed.This sentence uses the masculine plural form densos to describe clouds.Tatoeba #8383546 by arh, translation #9495690 by DJ_Saidez
- El plomo es un metal blando, denso, maleable y fusible.Lead is a soft, dense, malleable and fusible metal.This sentence uses the masculine singular form denso to describe a metal.Tatoeba #10086980 by arh, translation #10086854 by AlanF_US
- El bosque era tan denso que atravesarlo era casi imposible.The forest was so dense, it was almost impossible to cross it.This sentence uses the masculine singular form denso to describe a forest.Tatoeba #2319721 by Shishir, translation #10491017 by DJ_Saidez
- El material es bastante denso, lo que dificulta su manipulaciónThe material is quite dense, which makes it difficult to handle
- El hormigón de la estructura es muy compactoThe concrete of the structure is very dense
- Este poema está lleno de metáforas, lo que lo hace bastante opacoThis poem is filled with metaphors, which makes it quite dense
- No le pidas ayuda, es bastante empanadoDon't ask him for help, he is quite dense
- No seas zopenco, entendiste perfectamente lo que te expliquéDon't be dense, you understood perfectly what I explained
- La selva amazónica es tan densa que apenas pasa la luz del sol.The Amazon rainforest is so dense that sunlight barely passes through.
- La explicación del profesor fue bastante densa, necesito repasarla.The teacher's explanation was quite dense, I need to review it.
- No seas tan empanado, es una solución sencilla.Don't be so dense, it's a simple solution.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are walking through a thick fog in the mountains.
- LucíaEl aire está muy denso hoy.The air is very dense today.
- AlejandroSí, casi no puedo ver el camino.Yes, I can barely see the path.
- LucíaTen cuidado con las piedras, Alejandro.Be careful with the stones, Alejandro.
- AlejandroLo haré, este humo es muy denso.I will, this smoke is very dense.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry denso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
