A person dressed in green surgical scrubs, a surgical cap, and a mask, holding a scalpel, depicted in a storybook style.

cirujano

si-ru-HA-no

nounmB1

surgeon?medical professional

Also:operating doctor?general medical term

📝 In Action

El cirujano explicó los riesgos de la operación con mucha calma.

The surgeon explained the risks of the operation very calmly.

Mi hermana quiere ser cirujano cardiovascular.

My sister wants to be a cardiovascular surgeon.

Llamaron al mejor cirujano del hospital para la emergencia.

They called the best surgeon in the hospital for the emergency.

Word Connections

Synonyms

doctor (doctor)
médico (physician)

Common Collocations

cirujano plástico – plastic surgeon
cirujano ortopédico – orthopedic surgeon
el equipo de cirujanos – the surgical team

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Change (Noun)

Since this word refers to a person, it changes form depending on the person's gender. Use 'el cirujano' for a man, and 'la cirujana' for a woman.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing the Field and the Person

Mistake: "Hizo una cirujano (He did a surgeon)"

Correction: Hizo una cirugía (He did a surgery). Remember, 'cirujano' is the person, 'cirugía' is the procedure.

⭐ Usage Tips

Professional Titles

It is polite and common to use the definite article (el/la) when referring to a specific surgeon's role: 'La cirujana Pérez es muy buena.' (Surgeon Pérez is very good.)

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: cirujano

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses the feminine form of this profession?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

cirugía(surgery) - noun

quirúrgico(surgical (adjective)) - adjective

cirujana(female surgeon) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'cirujano' the same as 'médico'?

No, 'médico' is the general term for 'doctor' or 'physician.' A 'cirujano' is a specialized type of doctor who focuses specifically on performing operations (surgeries). All 'cirujanos' are 'médicos,' but not all 'médicos' are 'cirujanos.'