enfermizo
“enfermizo” means “sickly” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
sickly
Also: frail, unhealthy-looking
📝 In Action
De niño era un poco enfermizo y siempre tenía gripe.
B1As a child, he was a bit sickly and always had the flu.
Tiene un color de piel enfermizo por la falta de sol.
B2He has an unhealthy-looking skin tone due to the lack of sun.
Su constitución enfermiza le impedía hacer deportes pesados.
C1His frail constitution prevented him from doing heavy sports.
unhealthy
Also: morbid, obsessive
📝 In Action
Tienen una relación enfermiza basada en los celos.
B2They have an unhealthy relationship based on jealousy.
Siente una curiosidad enfermiza por los crímenes reales.
C1He has a morbid curiosity about true crimes.
Su perfeccionismo es enfermizo.
B2His perfectionism is obsessive/unhealthy.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "enfermizo" in Spanish:
frail→morbid→obsessive→sickly→unhealthy→unhealthy-looking→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: enfermizo
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence describes someone who frequently gets the cold?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Derived from the Spanish word 'enfermo' (sick), which comes from the Latin 'infirmus', meaning 'not strong' or 'weak'. The suffix '-izo' is used in Spanish to indicate a tendency or resemblance.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'enfermizo' for a temporary cold?
No. Use 'enfermo' if you have a cold today. Use 'enfermizo' if you are the type of person who catches every cold that goes around.
Is 'enfermizo' a negative word?
Generally, yes. It implies weakness when referring to health, or toxicity when referring to emotions and behavior.
Does it mean the same as 'mórbido'?
In the sense of 'morbid curiosity', yes, they are synonyms. However, 'enfermizo' is much more common for describing physical frailty.