Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| voltaje | /bolˈtaxe/ | masculine |
| tensión | /tenˈsjon/ | feminine |
In Spanish, "voltage" refers to the difference in electrostatic potential. While both terms are used, the phrase alta tensión is the standard way to refer to high-voltage power lines or electrical hazards.
Which one should you use?
Voltaje is common, but tensión is the preferred term in formal electrical engineering and technical contexts in Spanish. If you need to be highly precise or scientific, you may also use the formal terms potencial eléctrico for voltage or diferencia de potencial for potential difference.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the term voltaje to mean voltage, it must be used with the masculine article el. When using the term tensión to mean voltage, it must be used with the feminine article la.
How do you pronounce it?
/bolˈtaxe/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, alta tensión is used on warning signs for high voltage, whereas tensión alta would more likely describe a person with high blood pressure.
- While voltaje refers to the physical quantity, the word tensión can also describe a state of psychological stress or high nerves in a social situation.
- The suffix -aje in voltaje is a linguistic inheritance from Old Occitan and Old French, which Spanish uses to form nouns describing a process or a collection of things.
Examples in context
- Los letreros donde dice "alta tensión" frecuentemente son amarillos.Signs that say "high voltage" are often yellow.This sentence is useful for seeing how tensión is used in the context of warning signs.Tatoeba #2782384 by marcelostockle, translation #1891407 by CK
- ¡Peligro! Alta tensión.Danger! High voltage.This sentence is useful for seeing the use of tensión in a brief danger warning.Tatoeba #1963196 by hayastan, translation #1890311 by marafon
- La tensión en este circuito es altaThe voltage in this circuit is high
- El potencial eléctrico en ese dispositivo es bajoThe voltage in that device is low
- La diferencia de potencial entre estos polos es crucialThe voltage difference between these poles is crucial
- El voltaje de este circuito es altoThe voltage of this circuit is high
- El voltaje de esta batería es muy bajo.The voltage of this battery is very low.
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are checking an electronic device in a workshop.
- ElenaAlejandro, ¿puedes medir el voltaje de este circuito?Alejandro, can you measure the voltage of this circuit?
- AlejandroSí, Elena, el voltaje parece ser estable.Yes, Elena, the voltage seems to be stable.
- ElenaPerfecto, entonces podemos conectarlo ahora.Perfect, then we can connect it now.
- AlejandroTen cuidado, no queremos que se queme.Be careful, we don't want it to burn out.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “voltage” translations and entries voltaje, tensión, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tensión, voltaje, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
