molécula

molecule

noun moh-LEH-koo-lah Less Common

Origin: From French molécule, from New Latin molecula, diminutive of Latin moles (mass).

Usage Note

Molécula carries a written accent on the antepenultimate syllable (mó-le-cu-la), making it a proparoxytone. Its adjective form is molecular (estructura molecular). The word is feminine, following the -a ending pattern, and its plural is regular: moléculas. It belongs firmly to scientific vocabulary but appears in popular science writing and school curricula.

Examples

"Una molécula de agua tiene dos átomos de hidrógeno."

Natural Translation

A water molecule has two hydrogen atoms.

Literal Translation

A molecule of water has two atoms of hydrogen

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