doctor
“doctor” means “doctor” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
doctor
Also: physician
📝 In Action
Necesito una cita con el doctor.
A1I need an appointment with the doctor.
Mi hermana es doctora en un hospital.
A2My sister is a doctor at a hospital.
El doctor me dijo que necesito descansar.
A2The doctor told me I need to rest.
doctor (PhD)
📝 In Action
Es doctor en Historia y da clases en la universidad.
B1He's a doctor in History and teaches at the university.
La conferencia será impartida por la doctora Elena Soto, una experta en biología.
B2The lecture will be given by Dr. Elena Soto, an expert in biology.
Para ser profesor titular, necesitas ser doctor en tu campo.
C1To be a tenured professor, you need to be a doctor in your field.
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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My aunt studied physics for many years and finally got her highest degree. Now she is a...
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👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word 'doctor', which meant 'teacher'. This came from the verb 'docēre', meaning 'to teach'. So, originally, a 'doctor' was a respected teacher or scholar.
First recorded: Around the 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'doctor' and 'médico'?
They are often used to mean the same thing in everyday speech when talking about a medical doctor. However, 'médico' (or 'médica') is a more precise term that *only* means medical doctor. 'Doctor' can mean either a medical doctor or someone with a PhD.
How do I say 'I'm going to the doctor's office'?
You can say 'Voy al doctor' or 'Voy a la consulta del doctor'. Both are very common. 'Voy al médico' also works perfectly.