Today we’re putting another pair of similar-looking Spanish words under the microscope to find out how they are used. This week’s pair are físico and física.
Starting with the feminine form física, you can listen to how it’s pronounced here:
La física is the branch of science that is concerned with the properties of matter and energy and the relationships between them – physics:
Estudió física atómica.
She studied atomic physics.
los departamentos de matemáticas, física, química, y ciencias naturales
the departments of mathematics, physics, chemistry and natural sciences
Tiene una alta reputación en física teórica.
It has a very good reputation in theoretical physics
Una física is a woman who is expert in or studies physics – a (female) physicist:
Es una física e investigadora española.
She’s a Spanish physicist and researcher.
Un surprisingly, then, un físico is a man who is expert in or studies physics – a (male) physicist; and los físicos are physicists in general.
Fue un físico teórico ruso.
He was a Russian theoretical physicist.
En el CERN, los físicos e ingenieros investigan la estructura fundamental del universo.
The physicists and engineers at CERN research the basic structure of the universe.
El físico of a person is the way they are built and look – their physique, build or appearance:
Esto no es bueno para mi físico.
This is not good for my physique.
Es recordado principalmente por su físico corpulento, su sonrisa y sus expresiones faciales móviles.
He is remembered mainly for his corpulent build, his smile and his mobile facial expressions.
En su juventud, aprovechando su físico, trabajó como modelo en Europa.
In his youth, making the most of his looks, he worked as a model in Europe.
As well as being a noun, físico is also an adjective meaning physical:
En la mayoría de los casos, los pacientes sufren síntomas físicos.
In most cases, the patients experience physical symptoms.
Esta condición puede ser diagnosticada por medio de un examen físico.
This condition can be diagnosed by means of a physical examination.
los efectos de la actividad física
he effects of physical activity
Introdujo el ejercicio físico en las escuelas de niñas.
She introduced physical exercise to girls’ schools.
To run through the differences in usage between some more similar-looking Spanish words, join us again next week.
