succión
/suɡˈθjon/feminine
The English word 'suction' is translated into Spanish as succión.
succión refers to the process of creating an imbalance in pressure to draw matter from one place to another. While succión is the standard term, related verbs like succionar or chupar are used to describe the action of sucking.
Meaning: the process of creating an imbalance in pressure to draw matter from one place to another (noun)
Which one should you use?
When describing the action of sucking, you can choose between different verbs based on the context. The verb succionar is technical, whereas chupar is a common, everyday word used for actions like sucking on candy or using a straw.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun succión is feminine. This means any adjectives used to describe it must also be in the feminine form, such as una succión fuerte.
How do you pronounce it?
/suɡˈθjon/
Did you know?
- While succión is the formal noun, using the verb chupar to describe the act of sucking can range from describing a child with a lollipop to being highly vulgar or sexual in certain contexts.
- In Spanish, a vacuum cleaner is not described as having 'suction' succión, but is instead linked to the verb aspirar, which means 'to inhale' or 'to aspire'.
- The technical term succión was first recorded in a 1615 medical text by Juan Sorapán de Rieros, long before it became common in everyday Spanish.
Examples in context
- La succión creada por el barco que se hundía jaló a Gabriel debajo del agua.The suction created by the sinking ship pulled Gabriel under the water.This sentence shows how succión can be used to describe a physical force acting on a person.Tatoeba #12848509 by mexicanhere, translation #11757418 by Amastan
- El médico utilizó una máquina de aspiración durante la cirugía.The doctor used a suction machine during the surgery.
- Necesitamos realizar una aspiración del líquido acumulado en los pulmones.We need to perform suction of the accumulated fluid in the lungs.
- La succión de la bomba es muy fuerte.The suction of the pump is very strong.
- Siente la succión en el fondo de la taza.Feel the suction at the bottom of the cup.
Example conversation
Mateo and María are cleaning the house together.
- MateoEsta aspiradora no tiene suficiente succión.This vacuum cleaner doesn't have enough suction.
- MaríaQuizás el filtro esté sucio, Mateo.Maybe the filter is dirty, Mateo.
- MateoVoy a limpiarlo para mejorar la succión.I'm going to clean it to improve the suction.
- MaríaGracias, así terminaremos más rápido.Thanks, that way we'll finish faster.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “suction” translations and entries succión, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries succión, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
