esporádico

sporadic

adjective es-poh-RAH-dee-koh Rare

Origin: From Greek sporadikos 'scattered', from speirein 'to sow'.

Also means

occasional

Usage Note

Esporádico describes something that occurs irregularly and infrequently, without a fixed pattern. The feminine form is esporádica. The adverb is esporádicamente. It is a common adjective in medical contexts (síntomas esporádicos) and journalism (violencia esporádica).

Examples

"Los cortes de luz son esporádicos en esta zona."

Natural Translation

Power outages are sporadic in this area.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

How to Roll Your Rs in Spanish (Even If You Can't Yet)

Roll your Rs in Spanish by building from the butter sound you already make, then adding airflow. A step-by-step method, minimal pairs, and self-check drills.

June 3, 2026 7 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Reflexive Verbs: Me, Te, Se Made Clear

Spanish reflexive verbs use me, te, se for actions you do to yourself. Master the daily-routine pattern, pronoun placement, and shifts like dormir vs dormirse.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

How to Say "You" in Spanish: Tú, Usted, Vos & Vosotros

Spanish has five words for "you": tú, usted, vos, vosotros, and ustedes. Learn which to use by who you're talking to and where — plus the verb endings.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Subjunctive Explained Simply for Beginners

The Spanish subjunctive is a mood, not a tense — use it after a WEIRDO trigger plus que. Learn the one rule, the yo-form recipe, and the lines you already say.

June 9, 2026 5 min read