célula
nounCEFR B2
What does “célula” mean in English?
cell — the biological unit of life; also a small organisational or covert unit
cell — the biological unit of life; also a small organisational or covert unit (la célula madre; la división celular; célula durmiente)
Example sentences
La célula madre tiene la capacidad de diferenciarse en distintos tipos de tejidos, lo que abre posibilidades inéditas para la medicina regenerativa.
The stem cell has the capacity to differentiate into different types of tissue, opening up unprecedented possibilities for regenerative medicine.
Según el informe de inteligencia, la célula operativa estaba formada por entre cuatro y seis miembros que actuaban de forma encubierta.
According to the intelligence report, the operational cell was made up of between four and six members acting covertly.
El funcionamiento de los paneles fotovoltaicos se basa en la capacidad de la célula solar de convertir la luz en electricidad.
The functioning of photovoltaic panels is based on the solar cell's ability to convert light into electricity.
How to use it
La célula (noun, feminine) means 'cell' — the biological unit (la célula madre — stem cell; la célula nerviosa — nerve cell) and, at B2, also a small organisational unit (una célula terrorista — a terrorist cell). Core collocations in science: la célula eucariota/procariota; la división celular; la célula solar (solar cell); la célula madre. In political/security discourse: una célula durmiente (sleeper cell). The adjective is celular: la membrana celular (cell membrane); el teléfono celular (mobile phone, Latin American). The division between biological and organisational senses is a productive B2 polysemy.
Common mistake
In Spain, the word for a mobile/cell phone is teléfono móvil (or just el móvil). In Latin America, teléfono celular (or just el celular) is standard. At B2, students should know both regional variants. Biological 'cell' is universally célula across all varieties of Spanish.