Denso vs. espeso
The Spanish words 'denso' and 'espeso' have similar meanings in English, both often translated as 'dense' or 'thick'. Despite their similarities, they are used in slightly different contexts.
Denso
The word 'denso' is usually used to refer to the concentration or compactness of something. It can also express the degree of difficulty to go through something due to its density.
El bosque es muy denso, casi impenetrable.
(The forest is very dense, almost impenetrable.)
El tráfico en la ciudad es denso durante las horas pico.
(The traffic in the city is dense during peak hours.)
El libro tiene un contenido denso y profundo.
(The book has a dense and deep content.)
Espeso
The word 'espeso' often refers to the thickness of a liquid or semi-liquid substance, indicating its high viscosity or low fluidity. It can also refer to a heavy atmosphere in a figurative sense.
La sopa está muy espesa, añade un poco de agua.
(The soup is very thick, add some water.)
La niebla matutina era espesa y fría.
(The morning fog was thick and cold.)
En la sala se podía cortar el ambiente espeso después de la discusión.
(In the room, you could cut the thick atmosphere after the discussion.)
Summary
'Denso' and 'espeso', while both may be translated as 'dense' or 'thick', tend to be used in different contexts. 'Denso' often refers to a compactness or concentration of elements, while 'espeso' typically refers to the viscosity of a substance or an intense atmosphere.