plancton
/ˈplanɡton/masculine
The English word "plankton" is plancton in Spanish.
plancton refers to the aquatic organisms.
Meaning: aquatic organism (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
plancton is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈplanɡton/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word plancton shares the same Greek root as the English 'plankton', meaning 'wanderer' or 'drifter'.
- While plancton refers to the organism, Spanish uses the phrase fitoplancton specifically for the plant-like organisms that provide most of the Earth's oxygen.
- Even though the English word ends in 'k', the Spanish spelling plancton drops the 'k' entirely to follow Spanish phonetic rules.
Examples in context
- La mayoría de las ballenas se alimentan de plancton.Most whales feed on plankton.This sentence is useful for learning how to say that whales feed on plancton.Tatoeba #4756636 by DarkHollow, translation #41197 by xtofu80
- Las ballenas se alimentan de plancton y de pequeños peces.Whales feed on plankton and small fish.This sentence is useful for describing a diet consisting of both plancton and small fish.Tatoeba #1654971 by marcelostockle, translation #238451 by CM
- El plancton es vital para el ecosistema marino.Plankton is vital for the marine ecosystem.
Example conversation
Two students are studying biology in a library.
- María¿Sabes qué come este pequeño pez?Do you know what this small fish eats?
- MateoCreo que se alimenta de plancton.I think it feeds on plankton.
- MaríaTienes razón, Mateo.You are right, Mateo.
- MateoEs una base importante en la cadena alimenticia.It is an important base in the food chain.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “plankton” translations and entries plancton, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries plancton, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
