infarto
/een-FAR-toh/
heart attack
Visualizing the most common usage of 'infarto', meaning a heart attack.
infarto(noun)
heart attack
?most common medical usage
myocardial infarction
?formal medical term
📝 In Action
El doctor dijo que el paciente sufrió un infarto grave.
B1The doctor said the patient suffered a severe heart attack.
La prevención es clave para reducir el riesgo de infarto.
B2Prevention is key to reducing the risk of a heart attack.
Sentí un dolor en el pecho, pensé que me daba un infarto.
B1I felt a pain in my chest, I thought I was having a heart attack.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Suffer'
When talking about experiencing a heart attack, the verb 'sufrir' (to suffer or experience) is frequently used: 'Sufrió un infarto.' This is often more natural than using 'tener' (to have).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Gender Confusion
Mistake: "Using 'la infarto'."
Correction: The word 'infarto' is masculine, so always use the masculine article: 'el infarto' or 'un infarto'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Medical vs. Everyday
While 'infarto' is precise, the phrase 'ataque al corazón' (attack to the heart) is also very common in casual conversation and news reports.
'Infarto' also refers generally to an infarction, which is the medical term for tissue death due to oxygen deprivation.
infarto(noun)
infarction
?general medical term for tissue death
tissue death (due to lack of blood)
?simplified explanation
📝 In Action
El infarto cerebral es causado por la obstrucción de una arteria en el cerebro.
C1Cerebral infarction (stroke) is caused by the blockage of an artery in the brain.
Se diagnosticó un infarto renal en la biopsia.
C2A renal infarction was diagnosed in the biopsy.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
Unless you are in a medical setting, 'infarto' almost always refers to the heart. If you mean tissue death elsewhere, you must specify the organ (e.g., 'infarto cerebral').
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: infarto
Question 1 of 1
Which phrase is the most common way to say someone 'had' a heart attack in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'infarto' the same as a stroke?
Not exactly. 'Infarto' on its own usually means a heart attack (myocardial infarction). A stroke is a specific type of infarction that happens in the brain, called 'infarto cerebral' or 'accidente cerebrovascular'.
Is 'ataque al corazón' a more informal way to say 'infarto'?
Yes. Both terms are widely used and understood, but 'ataque al corazón' is the simpler, everyday phrase, while 'infarto' is the specific medical term.