alergia
“alergia” means “allergy” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
allergy
Also: reaction
📝 In Action
Tengo alergia al polen.
A1I have an allergy to pollen.
Mi hermana tiene una alergia muy fuerte a las nueces.
A2My sister has a very strong allergy to nuts.
El médico me hizo una prueba de alergia.
B1The doctor gave me an allergy test.
allergy
Also: aversion
📝 In Action
Le tengo alergia al trabajo duro.
B1I'm 'allergic' to hard work (I really hate it).
Parece que tienes alergia a limpiar la cocina.
B2It seems like you have an allergy to cleaning the kitchen.
Mi gato le tiene alergia al agua.
B1My cat has an allergy to water (he hates it).
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: alergia
Question 1 of 3
How do you say 'I am allergic to dust' using the word 'alergia'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Ancient Greek 'allos' (other/strange) and 'ergon' (work/activity). It describes how the body reacts differently or 'strangely' to normal things.
First recorded: Early 20th century (modern medical term)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'alergia' and 'alérgico'?
'Alergia' is the noun (the condition), while 'alérgico' is the adjective (the person). You say 'Tengo alergia' (I have an allergy) or 'Soy alérgico' (I am allergic).
How do I ask if someone has an allergy?
You can ask: '¿Tienes alguna alergia?' (Do you have any allergies?)
Does 'alergia' always require 'a'?
Yes, when you specify what causes the reaction, you must use 'a'. Without it, the sentence is incomplete unless the context is already known.