Spanish STEM Vocabulary and Verbs

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics are very important classes that keep becoming more and more popular every day. Maybe because they’re very useful for our daily lives; they’re everywhere! And together they form the popular term STEM.

Many kids are interested in taking STEM classes. Some are just discovering how awesome these disciplines are. Some others already know they want to work in a STEM field when they grow up.

If this is your children’s case, we recommend you enroll them in Spanish classes as well. Because STEM gets along with Spanish very well. After all, in the different Spanish speaking countries, kids also take STEM classes.

So why not kill two birds with one stone? Help your kids learn some Spanish and improve their STEM skills at the same time. Get started with this guide for terms in Spanish for STEM disciplines.

Science Vocabulary in Spanish

The science world is huge! There are many subjects, jobs, and words related to it. So, here are a few scientific words in Spanish that are a must know. This is because your kids have already learned them in their native language or will most likely learn them during science class.

1. Science – Ciencia
2. Scientific / Scientist – Científico
3. Organism – Organismo
4. Sun – Sol
5. Moon – Luna
6. Air – Aire
7. Water – Agua
8. Animals – Animales
9. Earth – Tierra
10. Plants – Plantas
11. Flowers – Flores
12. Nature – Naturaleza
13. Human – Humano
14. Experiment – Experimento
15. Matter – Materia
16. Mass – Masa
17. Genetics – Genética
18. Molecules – Moléculas
19. Cells – Células
20. Atom – Átomo
21. Hypothesis – Hipótesis
22. Method – Método
23. Anatomy – Anatomía
24. Ecosystem – Ecosistema
25. Organ – Órgano
26. Genes – Genes
27. DNA – ADN
28. Biosphere – Biósfera
29. Biology – Biología
30. Chemistry – Química
31. Medicine – Medicina
32. Research – Investigación
33. Analysis – Análisis
34. Habitat – Hábitat
35. Life – Vida
36. Laboratory – Laboratorio
37. Microscope – Microscopio
38. Balance – Balanza
39. Test tube – Probeta
40. Beaker – Vaso de precipitado
41. Thermometer – Termómetro
42. Dropper – Gotero
43. Safety googles – Gafas protectoras

Technology Vocabulary in Spanish

Nowadays we live completely surrounded by technology in one way or another! And as much as we want to control how much technology our kids use, like television time or cellphones, they still coexist with technology.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Technology can be very useful, and they can do great things with it. And if they’re already thinking about their future, there are even some amazing careers in technology for those who are interested.

So, here are some important words in Spanish about technology that your kids will use a lot. Because many can be found in their everyday lives.

1. Technology – Tecnología
2. Technological – Tecnológico
3. Electronic – Electrónica (female) / Electrónico (male)
4. Digital – Digital
5. Virtual – Virtual
6. Machine – Máquina
7. Robot – Robot
8. Computer – Computadora
9. Laptop – Laptop
10. Cellphone – Teléfono celular / Celular
11. Camera – Cámara
12. Television – Televisión
13. Watch / Clock – Reloj
14. Smart watch – Reloj inteligente
15. Headphones / Earphones – Audífonos
16. Tablet – Tableta
17. Keyboard – Teclado
18. Printer – Impresora
19. Mouse – Ratón
20. GPS – GPS
21. Screen – Pantalla
22. Internet – Internet
23. Wi-Fi – Wi-Fi / Internet inalámbrico
24. Social media – Redes sociales
25. Browser – Navegador
26. Videogames – Videojuegos
27. Apps – Aplicaciones / Apps
28. USB – USB
29. Cable – Cable
30. Satellite – Satélite
31. Website – Sitio web
32. Online – En línea
33. Remote control – Control remoto
34. Artificial Intelligence – Inteligencia Artificial
35. Electronic devices – Aparatos electrónicos
36. Wireless – Inalámbrico
37. Password – Contraseña
38. Programming – Programación
39. Computing – Informática
40. Software – Software
41. Hardware – Hardware

Engineering Vocabulary in Spanish

Since engineering is not really an academic subject, one would think that kids aren’t interested in learning it. At least not yet. But that’s not necessarily true. There are many academic subjects that kids take that are related to engineering, like math.

Plus, while taking good STEM extracurricular courses, they’ll be able to see the great things about engineering and get interested in it. So, your kids must know engineering vocabulary in Spanish. Especially if they want a career in STEM or simply to take some STEM courses in Spanish.

Here are some words to help start their engineering in Spanish journey:

1. Engineering – Ingeniería
2. Engineer – Ingeniero (male) / Ingeniera (female)
3. Tools – Herramientas
4. Build – Construir
5. Design – Diseño
6. Construction – Construcción
7. Problems – Problemas
8. Solutions – Soluciones
9. Computer engineering – Ingeniería informática
10. Mechanical – Mecánico (male) / Mecánica (female)
11. Environmental – Ambiental
12. Agricultural – Agrícola
13. Civil – Civil
14. Software – Software
15. Industrial – Industrial
16. Chemical – Química (female) / Químico male)
17. Nuclear – Nuclear
18. Mechatronics – Mecatrónica
19. Aeronautical – Aeronautica
20. Energy – Energía
21. Cars – Carros
22. Airplanes – Aviones
23. Helicopters – Helicopteros
24. Rockets – Cohetes
25. Power plants – Centrales eléctricas
26. Buildings – Edificios
27. Roads – Caminos
28. Bridges – Puentes
29. Engines – Motores
30. Medical devices – Dispositivos médicos
31. Robots – Robots
32. Space – Espacio
33. Maintenance – Mantenimiento
34. Measurements – Medidas
35. System – Sistema
36. Manufacture – Fabricar
37. Prototype – Prototipo
38. Parts – Piezas
39. Automated – Automatizado
40. Battery – Batería
41. Ruler – Regla
42. Drill bit – Broca
43. Screwdriver – Destornillador
44. Plier – Tenaza
45. Compass – Compás
46. Chisel – Cincel
47. Sensors – Sensores
48. Electricity – Electricidad
49. Electrical – Eléctrico (male) / Electrical (female)
50. Speed – Velocidad
51. Movement – Movimiento
52. Forces – Fuerzas
53. Structure – Estructura
54. Cable – Cable
55. Crane – Grúa
56. Pulley – Polea
57. Circuit – Circuito
58. Optimize – Optimizar
59. Operate – Operar
60. Efficient – Eficiente
61. Technologies – Tecnologías
62. Electromagnetic – Electromagnético
63. Hydraulic – Hidráulico
64. Electric current – Corriente eléctrica
65. Robotics – Robótica
66. Aerospace – Aeroespacial
67. Aerodynamic – Aerodinámico
68. Implement – Implementar
69. Test – Prueba / Probar
70. Kinetic – Cinético
71. Hypersonic – Hipersónico
72. Thermal shock – Choque térmico
73. Watt – Vatio

Mathematics Vocabulary in Spanish

Now, it’s time for one of the most common and important academic subjects of all time: Mathematics! Math is at every single grade level that kids go through. From elementary school to high school and even, to a greater or lesser extent, university.

But that’s not it! Math is also in our everyday lives. Like when you go to the store and they give you some change. Or how all of your STEM classes at school involve math in one way or another. Or when you go to a restaurant and you want to calculate how much to tip. Or even at work, depending on what your job is.

All of this makes it essential for children to learn some math words in Spanish.

1. Mathematics – Matemáticas
2. Math – Matemáticas / Mate
3. Numbers – Números
4. To count – Contar
5. Operations – Operaciones
6. Equation – Ecuación
7. Addition – Suma
8. Subtraction – Resta
9. Multiplication – Multiplicación
10. Division – División
11. Fraction – Fracción
12. Square root – Raíz cuadrada
13. Factor – Factor
14. Decimal – Decimal
15. Decimal point – Punto decimal
16. Equal to – Igual a
17. Divided by – Dividido entre
18. Plus – Más
19. Times – Veces
20. Total – Total
21. Multiply – Multiplicar
22. Arithmetic – Aritmética
23. Geometry – Geometría
24. Geometric figures – Figuras geométricas
25. Circle – Círculo
26. Square – Cuadrado
27. Triangle – Triángulo
28. Rectangle – Rectángulo
29. Cone – Cono
30. Cube – Cubo
31. Cylinder – Cilindro
32. Numerator – Numerador
33. Denominator – Denominador
34. Angles – Ángulos
35. Calculus – Cálculo
36. Result – Resultado
37. Perimeter – Perímetro
38. Diameter – Diámetro
39. Area – Área
40. Volume – Volumen
41. Radius – Radio
42. Measure – Medida
43. Sum – Suma
44. Difference – Diferencia
45. Minus – Menos
46. Quotient – Cociente
47. Even numbers – Números par
48. Odd numbers – Números impar
49. Whole numbers / Integers – Números enteros
50. Complex numbers – Números complejos
51. Rational numbers – Números racionales
52. Real numbers – Números reales
53. Per – Por
54. Dividend – Dividendo
55. Divisor – Divisor
56. Multiple – Múltiplo
57. Least common multiple – Mínimo común múltiplo
58. Greater than – Mayor que
59. Less than – Menor que
60. Percent – Porcentaje
61. Units – Unidades
62. Rule of three – Regla de tres
63. Half – Mitad
64. A quarter – Un cuarto
65. Dozens – Decenas
66. Hundreds – Centenas
67. Minuend – Minuendo
68. Subtrahend – Sustraendo
69. Ruler – Regla
70. Compass – Compás
71. To cube – Al cubo
72. To square / Squared – Al cuadrado
73. Symbol – Símbolo
74. Minus sign – Signo de menos
75. Plus sign – Signo de más
76. Times sign / Multiplication sign – Signo de multiplicar
77. Division sign – Signo de división

Verbs for STEM Classes

Now here are some verbs in Spanish that will be very useful for your kids taking STEM courses. Because these have a lot to do with the different STEM areas and what people do while studying or working in these kinds of careers. So, we’re sure children will use them at some point.

1. To evaluate – Evaluar
2. To calculate – Calcular
3. To factor – Factorizar
4. To multiply – Multiplicar
5. To divide – Dividir
6. To add – Sumar
7. To subtract – Restar
8. To factor – Factorizar
9. To measure – Medir
10. To research – Investigar
11. To theorize – Teorizar
12. To do – Hacer
13. To analyze – Analizar
14. To count – Contar
15. To experiment – Experimentar
16. To try – Intentar
17. To classify – Clasificar
18. To formulate – Formular
19. To observe – Observar
20. To solve – Solucionar / Resolver
21. To study – Estudiar
22. To examine – Examinar
23. To design – Diseñar
24. To test – Probar
25. To predict – Predecir
26. To develop – Desarrollar
27. To build – Construir
28. To implement – Implementar
29. To prove – Comprobar / Probar
30. To demonstrate – Demostrar
31. To turn off – Apagar
32. To turn on – Prender / Encender
33. To log out – Salir de la sesión
34. To log on – Iniciar sesión / Desconectarse
35. To register – Registrar
36. To compare – Comparar
37. To understand – Entender
38. To conclude – Concluir

Spanish Phrases to Talk about STEM

Now here are some useful Spanish phrases to express their feelings and thoughts about STEM disciplines. As well as to talk to others, from friends and classmates to family, about STEM things. Or even to express when they’re not understanding something.

• When I grow up, I want to be an engineer. / Cuando crezca quiero ser ingeniera.
• Mom, guess what? We’re taking a STEM course at the school this year! I’m so excited! / Mamá, ¿adivina qué? Vamos a tomar un curso de STEM en la escuela este año. ¡Estoy muy emocionada!
• I love STEM related classes! / ¡Amo las clases relacionadas a STEM!
• My favorite STEM class is mathematics. / Mi clase favorita de STEM es matemáticas.
• I don’t understand, can you explain it to me again, please? / No entiendo, ¿me lo puede explicar otra vez, por favor?
• We have a robotics class and the whole group is building a robot together! / ¡Tenemos una clase de robótica y todo el grupo está construyendo un robot juntos!
• I’m learning to subtract at school. / Estoy aprendiendo a restar en la escuela.
• I have a question. / Tengo una pregunta.
• Science class is so difficult! / ¡La clase de ciencias es muy difícil!
• Can you please help me with my computing homework? / Me puedes ayudar por favor con la tarea de informática?
• Today we did an experiment in the science lab. / Hoy hicimos un experimento en el laboratorio de ciencias.
• We created a website for our technology class! / ¡Creamos un sitio web en nuestra clase de tecnología!
• I have to write a hypothesis for my science project. / Tengo que escribir una hipótesis para mi proyecto de ciencias.

What Not to Do When Teaching Your Kids Spanish for STEM

Don’t get frustrated at them

When teaching your kids a new language, you could get frustrated at times. Especially when you’ve explained something over and over again and they don’t get it. Sometimes you even think that they’re not paying attention. But that’s not always the truth. Sometimes they’re really not understanding.

It’s normal that you feel despair after a long study session when they still don’t seem to learn the topic. Because you truly want them to understand it, because you know it’ll be beneficial for them.

But if you ever feel this way, don’t take it out on them. This will only make them feel bad, maybe even dumb, and demotivate them. Remember, they’re learning.

Don’t sit them down to memorize

If you sit them down to only memorize a list of words, they’ll get bored easily. Therefore, they’ll eventually stop enjoying learning Spanish.

You don’t want them to lose their spark for new languages. Because then, they might forget or simply not go back to their Spanish lessons, because they’re not enjoyable anymore. If they associate new languages with boredom, they might not even give language learning a second chance when they grow up.

Plus, in all honesty, it’s not even that good for them to just memorize words. They need to learn how and in which situations to use them.

Don’t overwhelm them with many topics at the same time

If you try to teach them many different topics all at once, and a very long list of words, you’ll overwhelm them. It’ll be too much!

They might not even know where to start. Or worse, they might even mix some things, not understand half of what you’re teaching them, or even forget it all.

We know you truly want them to become bilingual and get the best from their Spanish skills. But it’s a process. You cannot teach them present, past, future, subjunctive, 20 verb conjugations, prepositions… all at once!

They must start with the basics and gradually they’ll get to the rest.

What to Do to Teach Your Kids Spanish for STEM

Add STEM vocabulary to your daily life

A great way to learn Spanish is by adding it to your normal everyday life. It’s a casual way of learning it and it won’t feel like boring study sessions.

So, you should try to speak in Spanish in your daily life, but make sure to use some vocabulary for STEM in Spanish. So by listening to you, your children will start acquiring words and phrases for these disciplines in a natural way.

It’s probable they might even start saying out loud the STEM words that they hear from you. This would be great practice for them. But if they don’t, you should encourage them to speak, maybe ask them questions in Spanish about STEM topics.

An example of how to include these words in your life would be when helping your kids with their math homework. Use some of the words and verbs above, like “multiplicar” or “número”.

Or when you’re preparing a dessert together, use whichever words above you think can be used for cooking. Like “measure” or “calcular”. Or if your kids are playing on the computer, use technology words, such as “iniciar sesión”.

Divide the word lists in parts

There are too many words and jargon about the STEM industries, from adjectives to nouns to verbs… You just saw that in the lists of words we presented to you above.

So, of course, it can get overwhelming and even boring for kids to learn them all at once! Instead, divide the word lists that you have in many parts, like in tens. This way you’ll only teach 10 words first.

Then, once your children have learned those or feel more confident using them, start with the next bunch of words. Then the next and so on…

It’s a gradual learning process, but it’ll be more effective. They’ll truly have understood and acquired the first part of the vocabulary before continuing to learn more.

Have fun!

Learning Spanish and learning STEM is also about having fun! Not everything has to be serious. So, try to create fun activities to do with your kids to learn Spanish for STEM. Such as playing games, like “lotería” or a memory card game.

You could also look for some children’s books about your kids’ favorite science. For example: If they love technology, read to your kids or with your kids a fictional book that involves tech.

Music is another magical way to learn a new language. Go to YouTube and look for songs in Spanish about STEM topics. Do any activities you can come up with that you know could be fun for your kids.

Fun Classes + Tons of Practice ÷ Spanish = TruFluency Kids’ Spanish Immersion Program

Your kids will learn a lot of Spanish vocabulary for STEM with this guide, but that’s not enough. That’s right! If you want them to truly master the language and use it properly for their future in STEM or for any situation, they’ll need classes.

But they can’t be boring lessons! Children are full of energy, curiosity and creativity, so the classes must be just like that: Interactive and fun! This will make them more engaged in the learning process and enjoy it more. As well as remember more easily what they learn and not forget it the next day.

Good news! TruFluency Kids does exactly that! We offer Spanish immersion classes with native teachers.

This means your kids will learn from people that know the language with all its nuances. And they’ll make learning fun! There are cool activities in Spanish in every single class, like:

• Dancing
• Singing
• Making crafts
• Playing games
• Cooking

As if that weren’t enough, our students are also encouraged to speak in Spanish during all lessons. So they’ll get in tons of practice. That’s the best way to achieve Spanish fluency!

Soon, they might be talking to you in Spanish about their favorite STEM class. If you ask us, this is a great equation for your kids’ Spanish success!

But that’s not all! We also think about parents and how busy you all are. That’s why our classes are online, and we offer flexible schedules. And if your kids miss a class, tell us and they can jump into another one. This way they can study with us from anywhere in the world!

Are you ready to change your kids’ lives through fun language lessons? Sign them up for our next four-week session.