Spanish Medical Vocabulary: 35 Common Diseases Translated in Spanish
What are common diseases and conditions called in Spanish? Check out this list of Spanish medical vocabulary. Plus, a pronunciation guide and a quiz!
Are you a medical professional or medical student who is also learning Spanish? In this article, let’s review the different common diseases and learn what they are called in Spanish.
To make the vocabulary stick, don’t forget to take the short quiz at the bottom of the article!
List of Common Diseases and Conditions in Spanish
1. Acné (acne)
This first one is pretty much the same as what it’s called in English. But in Spanish, you say it with a more pronounced k sound. Say it with me: akh-´neh.
2. Anemia (anemia)
Anemia is also anemia in Spanish. Here’s how you say it: ah-´neh-myah.
3. Asma (asthma)
Just remove the th and you have asma, or how asthma is called in Spanish. It is pronounced as: ´ahs-mah.
4. Cáncer (cancer)
If at this point you’re wondering if the names of illnesses actually vary between English and Spanish, the answer is YES. Just wait for it, you’ll see! Cancer in Spanish is pronounced ´kahn-sehr.
5. Varicela (chickenpox)
See, I told you, there’s a difference. Chickenpox in Spanish is varicela, pronounced as bah-ree-´seh-lah.
6. Cólera (cholera)
Now back to the ones that are basically the same as in English. It’s pronounced almost the same way, too: ´koh-leh-rah.
7. Diabetes (diabetes)
Yep, diabetes is also diabetes in Spanish but you say it this way: dyah-´beh-tehs.
8. Difteria (diphtheria)
Diphtheria, a serious bacterial infection that affects the nose and throat is spelled as difteria and pronounced as deef-´teh-ryah in Spanish.
9. Epilepsia (epilepsy)
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes seizures. In Spanish, it’s called epilepsia (eh-pee-´lehp-syah).
10. Cálculos biliares, piedras en la vesícula (gallstones)
Gallstones are either referred to in Spanish as cálculos biliares (´kahl-koo-lohs bee-´lyah-rehs) or piedras en la vesícula (´pyeh-drahs ehn lah veh-´see-koo-lah).
11. Rubéola (German measles)
A viral infection that causes red rashes all over the body, German measles is also called rubella. In Spanish, it’s rubéola (roo-´beh-oh-lah).
12. Fiebre del heno / Rinitis alérgica (hay fever)
Hay fever or allergic rhinitis is fiebre de heno or rinitis alérgica (´fyeh-breh dehl eh-noh, ree-´nee-tees ah-´lehr-hee-kah) in Spanish.
13. Acidez (heartburn)
A burning feeling behind the breastbone may be heartburn, called acidez in Spanish, but chest pain can have other causes and may require medical attention.
14. Hipertensión arterial (high blood pressure)
The standard medical term in Spanish is hipertensión arterial.
15. Colesterol alto (high cholesterol )
High cholesterol has multiple possible causes and should be assessed by a clinician. In Spanish, it’s called colesterol alto (koh-lehs-teh-´rohl ´ahl-toh).
16. VIH (HIV)
HIV or human immunodeficiency virus is VIH or virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana. Pronounce the initials separately: uve (also called ve), i, hache.
17. Enfermedad del corazón (heart disease)
Say it with me: ehn-fehr-meh-´dahd dehl koh-rah-´sohn.
18. Hepatitis A, B, C (hepatitis A, B, C)
This one is pretty straightforward except you say it as eh-pah-´tee-tees ah, beh, seh.
19. Cálculos en los riñones, piedra en el riñón (kidney stones)
There are different ways to say kidney stones in Spanish. You can say cálculos en los riñones (´kahl-koo-lohs ehn lohs ree-´nyoh-nehs) or piedra en el riñón. Either way is OK.
20. Leucemia (leukemia)
To say leukemia in Spanish, you simply switch the k with a c and you’re good. Come on, practice it with me: lew-´seh-myah.
21. Enfermedad de Lyme (Lyme disease )
Disease is enfermedad in Spanish, right? So it follows that lyme disease is enfermedad de Lyme (ehn-fehr-meh-´dahd deh Lyme). Easy-peasy.
22. Sarampión (measles)
A rash with fever or respiratory symptoms needs professional assessment; do not diagnose measles from a vocabulary list. Or as the Spanish say, sarampión (sah-rahm-´pyohn).
23. Meningitis (meningitis)
Meningitis is also meningitis in Spanish, except you pronounce it meh-neen-´hee-tees.
24. Paperas (mumps)
This highly contagious (and quite awful!) disease is referred to in Spanish as paperas (pah-´peh-rahs).
25. Neumonía / pulmonía (pneumonia)
Pneumonia is a common infection of the lungs which the Spanish call pulmonía (pool-moh-´nee-ah).
26. Polio (polio)
How do you say polio in Spanish? You say polio, too! Say it now: ´poh-lyoh.
27. Fiebre reumática (rheumatic fever)
Another easy one. You can pronounce it as ´fyeh-breh rew-´mah-tee-kah.
28. Escarlatina (scarlet fever)
Scarlet fever in Spanish is simply escarlatina (ehs-kahr-lah-´tee-nah).
29. Viruela (smallpox)
Smallpox, a disease that has been eradicated with vaccination programs, is also called variola. In Spanish, it is viruela (bee-´rweh-lah).
30. Tétanos (tetanus)
Just a slight difference in spellings here and there. And it’s pronounced the same way, too (´te-tah-nohs) !
31. Amigdalitis (tonsillitis)
This inflammation, often caused by a viral or bacterial infection, is called amigdalitis in Spanish. It’s pronounced as ah-meeg-da-´lee-tees.
32. Tuberculosis (tuberculosis)
No news here. Tuberculosis is also tuberculosis (too-behr-koo-´loh-sees).
33. Tifoidea (typhoid)
This disease caused by drinking or eating contaminated food or water is referred to in Spanish as tifoidea (tee-foy-´deh-ah).
34. Úlceras (Ulcers)
The painful sores in the stomach lining are called úlceras (´ool-se-rahs) in Spanish.
35. Tos ferina, tos convulsiva (whooping cough)
There’s regular cough, and then there’s the whooping kind called pertussis. In Spanish you say tos ferina (tohs feh-´ree-nah) or tos convulsiva (tohs kohn-bool-´see-bah)
Mini Quiz
Time to test what you’ve learned! Ready?
1. What is scarlet fever in Spanish?
Click to reveal the correct answer
Escarlatina
2. rubéola means:
Click to reveal the correct answer
German measles
3. What is rheumatic fever called in Spanish?
Click to reveal the correct answer
fiebre reumática
4. True or false: Heartburn is called ácido in Spanish
Click to reveal the correct answer
False: it is called acidez
5. What is sarampión in English?
Click to reveal the correct answer
Measles
Conclusion
You have just gone through 35 common diseases and conditions translated into Spanish. Do you need more information about Spanish medical terms? Our e-book Spanish for Medical Professionals is what you need. Even with zero prior background in Spanish, you can interact with Spanish-speaking patients immediately, with the help of this complete Medical Spanish e-book. Check it out below!
