"Clean" means free of dirt; "clear" means free of obstacles, confusion, or visual impurities.
Free of dirt, stains, or contamination. Or the act of cleaning.
Please clean the kitchen before the guests arrive.
Por favor limpia la cocina antes de que lleguen los invitados.
His record is clean — no criminal charges ever.
Su expediente esta limpio. Nunca ha tenido cargos criminales.
Make sure you have a clean shirt for the interview.
Asegurate de tener una camisa limpia para la entrevista.
Without obstacles, confusion, or cloudiness. Transparent or unobstructed.
The road is clear. We can leave now.
La carretera esta despejada. Podemos salir ahora.
Is everything clear? Any questions before we start?
¿Queda todo claro? ¿Alguna pregunta antes de empezar?
The sky was clear and we could see all the stars.
El cielo estaba despejado y podiamos ver todas las estrellas.
Common mistake
Saying "the explanation was clean" when you mean easy to understand. Correct: "the explanation was clear." Clean has nothing to do with mental clarity — it only refers to physical dirt or purity. Also: "clean water" (no dirt) vs "clear water" (transparent, you can see through it). Water can be clean AND clear, or one without the other.
Trick to remember it
Diagnostic question: Is it a dirt or impurity problem? Use "clean". Is it an obstacle, confusion, or visibility problem? Use "clear". The sky can be "clear" (no clouds) but not "clean" (skies don't get dirty). A window can be "clean" (no fingerprints) and "clear" (transparent) at the same time.
Quick rule
Clean = no dirt / free of contamination. Clear = no obstacles / understandable / transparent.
Did you know?
"Clear" comes from Latin "clarus" (bright, famous) — the same root as Spanish "claro". "Clean" comes from Proto-Germanic "klainja" (pure, delicate). In English both words ended up describing the absence of something negative (dirt / obstacles), but through completely different etymological paths.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The instructions were not very _____ and I got confused.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
Make sure the equipment is _____ and sanitized before every use.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Clean = no dirt / free of contamination. Clear = no obstacles / understandable / transparent.
Saying "the explanation was clean" when you mean easy to understand. Correct: "the explanation was clear." Clean has nothing to do with mental clarity — it only refers to physical dirt or purity. Also: "clean water" (no dirt) vs "clear water" (transparent, you can see through it). Water can be clean AND clear, or one without the other.
Diagnostic question: Is it a dirt or impurity problem? Use "clean". Is it an obstacle, confusion, or visibility problem? Use "clear". The sky can be "clear" (no clouds) but not "clean" (skies don't get dirty). A window can be "clean" (no fingerprints) and "clear" (transparent) at the same time.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy