unidad
/uniˈdad/feminine
The Spanish word for unit is unidad.
unidad refers to a standard measure of a quantity. In technical or scientific contexts, the word elemento can also be used to refer to a unit, specifically when meaning an element or component.
Meaning: standard measure of a quantity (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
unidad is a feminine noun. When you want to say "a unit", you must use the feminine article una (una unidad) instead of the masculine uno. The plural form of unidad is unidades.
How do you pronounce it?
/uniˈdad/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, if a police officer refers to a 'unidad', they are likely talking about a specific patrol car rather than a mathematical concept.
- While unidad means 'unit', it is also the common word for 'unity' or 'oneness'. In political or social contexts, la unidad refers to the state of being united as a single body.
- The word unidad shares its Latin root with the English word 'unison', as both stem from the idea of 'one' or 'single' sound or state.
Examples in context
- Un individuo es la unidad más pequeña de la sociedad.An individual is the smallest unit of the society.This sentence illustrates how unidad can describe the smallest component of a society.Tatoeba #1237265 by Shishir, translation #610630 by mamduhi
- Si el metro es una unidad de medida, ¿es la palabra una unidad de habla?If the meter is a unit of measurement, is the word a unit of speech?This sentence uses unidad to compare a unit of measurement to a unit of speech.Tatoeba #5637277 by arh, translation #8740978 by Solana
- ¿Por qué costó tanto establecer que la neurona era la unidad básica del tejido nervioso?Why was it so hard to establish that the neuron is the most basic unit of nervous tissue?This sentence demonstrates using unidad to describe the basic component of a biological tissue.Tatoeba #3064 by Shishir, translation #3570067 by shwinnebego
- Juanito recibió el premio por ser el mejor estudiante de la unidad.Juanito received the award for being the best student in the unit.
- La compañía vendió dos millones de unidades del nuevo producto.The company sold two million units of the new product.
- El equipo recibió una nueva unidad de impresión para la oficina.The team received a new printing unit for the office.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and María are studying physics in a library.
- Javier¿Cuál es la unidad de medida para la fuerza?What is the unit of measurement for force?
- MaríaSe usa el newton como unidad básica.The newton is used as the basic unit.
- JavierGracias, María, no recordaba esa unidad.Thanks, María, I didn't remember that unit.
- MaríaDe nada, Javier, es un concepto sencillo.You're welcome, Javier, it's a simple concept.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “unit” translations and entries unidad, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries unidad, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
