manicomio
/mah-nee-KOH-myoh/
mental asylum
A 'manicomio' historically refers to a psychiatric hospital or mental asylum.
manicomio(noun)
mental asylum
?an old-fashioned term for a psychiatric hospital
psychiatric hospital
?clinical setting
📝 In Action
El antiguo manicomio de la ciudad ahora es un centro cultural.
B1The city's old mental asylum is now a cultural center.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Identification
Even though it is a long word, it ends in '-o,' which makes it masculine. Always use 'el' or 'un' with it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Modern Sensitivity
Mistake: "Using 'manicomio' in a formal medical report."
Correction: Use 'hospital psiquiátrico' instead. 'Manicomio' is considered a bit outdated and can sound harsh in professional healthcare settings.
⭐ Usage Tips
Historical Context
You will see this word often in historical novels or movies set in the past.
In a figurative sense, 'manicomio' describes a chaotic or noisy place, like a madhouse.
manicomio(noun)
madhouse
?referring to a chaotic or noisy place
bedlam
?extreme confusion or noise
📝 In Action
¡Esta oficina es un manicomio los lunes por la mañana!
B2This office is a madhouse on Monday mornings!
Con cinco niños gritando, la casa era un manicomio.
B2With five kids screaming, the house was a madhouse.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Ser' for Descriptions
When saying a place 'is' a madhouse, always use the verb 'ser' (es un manicomio) because you are describing the nature of the situation at that moment.
⭐ Usage Tips
Sounding Like a Native
Use this word when you want to complain about how busy or noisy a place is. It adds a bit of dramatic flair to your Spanish!
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: manicomio
Question 1 of 1
If your coworker says, '¡La tienda es un manicomio!', what are they complaining about?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'manicomio' considered offensive today?
When referring to a real hospital, it is considered outdated and somewhat stigmatizing. In modern clinical settings, 'hospital psiquiátrico' is the polite and correct term. However, using it figuratively to mean 'a chaotic place' is very common and usually not seen as offensive.
Is there a feminine version like 'manicomia'?
No. The word is always 'el manicomio,' regardless of who is in the place or who is talking.