enfermería
/en-fer-meh-REE-ah/
nursing
As a field of study or profession, enfermería means nursing.
📝 In Action
Estudió enfermería porque le encanta ayudar a la gente.
A2She studied nursing because she loves helping people.
La enfermería es una profesión muy exigente pero gratificante.
B1Nursing is a very demanding but rewarding profession.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
Even though it refers to a field of study or work, 'enfermería' is always a feminine word, so you must use 'la' before it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing the Profession and the Person
Mistake: "Mi padre es enfermería."
Correction: Mi padre es enfermero. ('Enfermería' is the job/field, 'enfermero' is the person.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'Estudiar'
To talk about studying the field, you simply say 'estudiar enfermería' (to study nursing), without needing the definite article 'la'.
When referring to a specific room in a facility, enfermería means infirmary.
enfermería(noun)
infirmary
?medical room in a facility
,nurse's office
?in a school
sickbay
?on a ship or military base
📝 In Action
Me caí y me llevaron a la enfermería del colegio.
A2I fell and they took me to the school's nurse's office.
El marinero enfermo fue transferido a la enfermería del barco.
B2The sick sailor was transferred to the ship's sickbay.
💡 Grammar Points
Location Prepositions
When talking about being inside the room, use 'en la enfermería'. When talking about going toward it, use 'a la enfermería'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Hospital' Instead
Mistake: "Llevamos al niño al hospital de la escuela."
Correction: Llevamos al niño a la enfermería de la escuela. (A school 'enfermería' is smaller and not a full 'hospital'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
If you are in a school or workplace, 'enfermería' almost always means the physical room where medical aid is given, not the entire field of nursing.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: enfermería
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'enfermería' to mean the place, not the profession?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'enfermería' and 'hospital'?
'Hospital' is a large medical center for serious care. 'Enfermería' is typically a smaller medical room or clinic located within another institution, like a school, factory, or military base. It's usually for minor injuries or temporary rest.
How do I say 'male nurse' and 'female nurse'?
The word 'enfermería' refers to the field itself. To refer to the person, use 'enfermero' for a male nurse and 'enfermera' for a female nurse.