partícula

particle

noun pahr-TEE-koo-lah Rare

Origin: From Latin particula (small part).

Usage Note

Partícula is used in physics (partícula subatómica), grammar (partícula gramatical — a grammatical particle), and everyday speech for a tiny fragment. Note the accent on the second syllable, making it a palabra esdrújula. In grammar, Spanish particles include words like no, sí, and certain clitics; this overlaps with the grammatical category partícula listed among the dictionary's parts of speech.

Examples

"El acelerador detectó una nueva partícula."

Natural Translation

The accelerator detected a new particle.

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