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clínica

KLEE-nee-kah/ˈkli.ni.ka/

“clínica” means “clinic” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

clinic

Also: hospital
NounfA1
Mexico
A simple illustration of a small medical clinic building featuring a red cross symbol and a friendly doctor standing in the doorway.

📝 In Action

Tuvimos que ir a la clínica dental de urgencia.

A1

We had to go to the emergency dental clinic.

Mi bebé nació en una clínica privada cerca de aquí.

A2

My baby was born in a private hospital near here.

La clínica está abierta 24 horas para recibir pacientes.

A1

The clinic is open 24 hours to receive patients.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • hospital (hospital)
  • consultorio (doctor's office)

Common Collocations

  • clínica veterinaria – veterinary clinic
  • clínica estética – cosmetic surgery clinic
  • clínica privada – private clinic/hospital

clinic

Also: seminar
NounfB2formal
An illustration showing a friendly coach demonstrating a technique with a basketball to two attentive young students on a gymnasium court.

📝 In Action

El famoso chef ofrecerá una clínica de cocina molecular este sábado.

B2

The famous chef will offer a molecular cooking clinic this Saturday (a workshop).

Asistí a una clínica de guitarra para aprender nuevas técnicas de jazz.

C1

I attended a guitar workshop to learn new jazz techniques.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • taller (workshop)
  • seminario (seminar)

Common Collocations

  • clínica deportiva – sports clinic
  • clínica musical – music workshop

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "clínica" in Spanish:

clinic→seminar→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: clínica

Question 1 of 2

If you read, 'El equipo de fútbol asistió a una clínica,' what does 'clínica' most likely mean?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
clínico(clinical (adjective)) — Adjective
clínicamente(clinically (adverb)) — Adverb
🎵 Rhymes▼
líricahípica
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes directly from the Latin 'clinicus,' which was borrowed from the Greek 'klinike.' It originally meant 'pertaining to the sickbed' because it relates to the Greek word 'kline,' meaning 'bed' or 'couch.' This origin is why the word is connected to medical care.

First recorded: Medieval Latin, entering Spanish later.

Cognates (Related words)

English: clinicItalian: clinicaFrench: clinique

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'clínica' the same as 'hospital'?

They are very similar. 'Clínica' usually implies a private medical center or a facility specializing in a certain type of care (like dental or eye care). 'Hospital' is generally the broader term for a general, often public, medical center.

How do I know if 'clínica' refers to a building or a lesson?

Look at the context. If the sentence mentions doctors, illness, or treatment, it's a building. If it mentions learning, sports, music, or a teacher, it's a specialized lesson or workshop.