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An illustration of a large, clean white hospital building with many windows and a distinctive red cross symbol clearly visible on the facade, with a bright red ambulance parked near the main entrance.

hospital

/os-pee-TAL/

NounmA1
hospital?a place for medical treatment
Also:infirmary?less common, often smaller

📝 In Action

Mi abuela está en el hospital.

A1

My grandmother is in the hospital.

¿Dónde está el hospital más cercano?

A1

Where is the nearest hospital?

Tuvieron que llevarlo al hospital después del accidente.

A2

They had to take him to the hospital after the accident.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • clínica (clinic)
  • sanatorio (sanatorium, private hospital)

Common Collocations

  • ir al hospital – to go to the hospital
  • estar en el hospital – to be in the hospital
  • hospital de campaña – field hospital
  • dar de alta del hospital – to be discharged from the hospital

Idioms & Expressions

  • mandar a alguien al hospital – To beat someone up badly.

💡 Grammar Points

It's a Masculine Noun: 'El Hospital'

Even though it doesn't end in -o, 'hospital' is a masculine word. Always say 'el hospital' (the hospital) or 'un hospital' (a hospital).

Going 'To The' Hospital: Use 'al'

When you say you're going 'to the hospital,' the words 'a' (to) and 'el' (the) combine to make 'al'. For example: 'Voy al hospital' (I'm going to the hospital).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Word Gender

Mistake: "Fui a la hospital."

Correction: Fui al hospital. Remember that 'hospital' is a masculine noun.

Pronunciation Stress

Mistake: "Stressing it like English: HOS-pi-tal."

Correction: In Spanish, the stress is on the last syllable: os-pi-TAL. Try saying it with the emphasis at the end.

⭐ Usage Tips

Easy to Remember!

This word is a 'cognate,' which is a fancy way of saying it looks and means almost the same thing in both Spanish and English. This makes it one of the easier words to remember!

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: hospital

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence is correct?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

hospitalizar(to hospitalize) - verb
hospitalización(hospitalization) - noun
hospitalario(hospitable, hospital-related) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'hospital' masculine or feminine in Spanish?

It's masculine! You should always say 'el hospital' for 'the hospital' and 'un hospital' for 'a hospital'. Many nouns ending in -l are masculine, which is a helpful pattern to remember.

What's the difference between 'hospital' and 'clínica'?

Think of it like this: a 'hospital' is usually a large, general facility that handles emergencies and is often public. A 'clínica' is typically smaller, may be private, and might specialize in certain types of care, like a dental clinic or a sports medicine clinic.