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hospital

os-pee-TALospiˈtal

“hospital” means “hospital” in Spanish (a place for medical treatment).

hospital

Also: infirmary
NounmA1
General
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.

📝 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.

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "hospital" in Spanish:

hospital→infirmary→

✏️ 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
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'hospitālis', which meant 'relating to a guest.' Originally, these were places offering rest for travelers or pilgrims, which later evolved into institutions for caring for the sick.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: hospital, hospitality, hotelFrench: hôpitalItalian: ospedale

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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.