diagnóstico
/dee-ahg-NOHS-tee-koh/
diagnosis
Diagnóstico (noun) means 'diagnosis,' the identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms.
diagnóstico(noun)
diagnosis
?medical/technical finding
,assessment
?evaluation of a situation
finding
?result of an investigation
,conclusion
?final determination
📝 In Action
El médico le dio un diagnóstico muy positivo después de las pruebas.
B1The doctor gave him a very positive diagnosis after the tests.
Necesitamos un diagnóstico claro antes de empezar a reparar el coche.
B2We need a clear assessment before starting to repair the car.
Hacer un diagnóstico de los problemas sociales es el primer paso para solucionarlos.
C1Making a diagnosis (or assessment) of social problems is the first step to solving them.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun
Even though it ends in '-o', which is common for masculine words, remember that diagnóstico is always masculine: 'el diagnóstico'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Noun and Adjective
Mistake: "Using 'diagnóstico' when you mean the verb 'diagnosticar'."
Correction: The noun is 'diagnóstico' (the conclusion). The action is 'diagnosticar' (to diagnose).
⭐ Usage Tips
Think of the Result
Use this word when referring to the result or conclusion of an investigation, not the process itself.
As an adjective, diagnóstico means 'diagnostic,' describing something used in the process of identifying a problem.
📝 In Action
Se requiere una prueba diagnóstica para confirmar la condición.
B2A diagnostic test is required to confirm the condition.
La herramienta diagnóstica identificó el fallo inmediatamente.
C1The diagnostic tool identified the failure immediately.
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement Rule
As an adjective, diagnóstico/a must match the gender of the noun it describes. Use diagnóstica for feminine nouns (e.g., prueba diagnóstica) and diagnóstico for masculine nouns (e.g., examen diagnóstico).
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Tools
Use this form when you are describing a thing or method whose purpose is to help figure out what the problem is.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: diagnóstico
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses the noun 'diagnóstico'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'diagnóstico' and 'pronóstico'?
'Diagnóstico' is the identification of the current problem (what is wrong right now). 'Pronóstico' is the prediction of how the situation will develop in the future (what is likely to happen next, like a forecast).
Is 'diagnóstico' used only for medical issues?
No. While it's very common in medicine, you can use 'diagnóstico' in any situation where you are identifying the cause of a problem, such as a technical error, a financial crisis, or social issues.