Inklingo

hospitales

ohs-pee-TAH-laysospiˈtales

hospitales means hospitals in Spanish (medical facilities).

hospitals

Also: medical centers
NounmA1
A storybook illustration showing two large, side-by-side hospital buildings, identifiable by the red cross symbols on their fronts.

📝 In Action

Todos los hospitales públicos ofrecen atención gratuita.

A2

All the public hospitals offer free care.

Necesitan construir más hospitales en las zonas rurales.

B1

They need to build more hospitals in rural areas.

Visitamos dos hospitales diferentes para encontrar al paciente.

A1

We visited two different hospitals to find the patient.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • clínicas (clinics)
  • sanatorios (sanatoriums / specialized hospitals)

Common Collocations

  • grandes hospitaleslarge hospitals
  • hospitales de campañafield hospitals (temporary)

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "hospitales" in Spanish:

hospitalsmedical centers

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: hospitales

Question 1 of 2

Which Spanish article is used correctly with 'hospitales'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

The word comes from the Latin word *hospitale*, which originally meant a guest house or a lodging for strangers and travelers. Over time, it specifically came to mean a place for care and healing.

First recorded: 13th century (in Spanish)

Cognates (Related words)

English: hospitalsFrench: hôpitauxPortuguese: hospitais

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'hospital' masculine, even though it ends in 'l'?

Most Spanish nouns ending in 'l' are masculine, and 'hospital' follows this pattern. Remember this word as part of the group of masculine nouns that don't follow the common 'o' ending rule (like *el hotel* or *el papel*).

Does 'hospitales' ever mean 'hospitality'?

No. 'Hospitales' only means 'hospitals' (the buildings). The word for 'hospitality' is the related noun *hospitalidad*.