níquel

nickel

noun NEE-kel Rare

Origin: From German 'Nickel', a miners' term (short for 'Kupfernickel', devil's copper), coined in the 18th century.

Usage Note

Níquel carries the written accent because it ends in -l (not -n or -s), making the natural stress fall on the first syllable — the accent confirms this. It refers to the chemical element (Ni, atomic number 28) and, in some Latin American countries, colloquially to a coin of small denomination. The plural níqueles retains the accent and adds a spelling-change note: the -el ending becomes -eles.

Examples

"El níquel se usa en la fabricación de acero inoxidable."

Natural Translation

Nickel is used in the manufacture of stainless steel.

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