paciente
“paciente” means “patient” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
patient, forbearing
📝 In Action
Mi abuela es muy paciente conmigo y mis errores.
A1My grandmother is very patient with me and my mistakes.
Necesitas ser más paciente mientras esperas los resultados.
A2You need to be more patient while waiting for the results.
patient
📝 In Action
El paciente fue dado de alta esta mañana.
A2The patient was discharged this morning.
La paciente tiene una cita con el especialista a las dos.
A2The patient (female) has an appointment with the specialist at two o'clock.
Los pacientes están esperando su turno en la sala.
B1The patients are waiting their turn in the room.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: paciente
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'paciente' as a noun?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word *patiens*, which means 'suffering' or 'enduring.' This is why it describes both someone who can wait calmly and someone who is suffering (a patient in a hospital).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I say 'patients' (plural) in Spanish?
You just add an 's' to the end: 'pacientes'. This applies whether you are using it as an adjective ('personas pacientes') or a noun ('los pacientes').
Is 'paciente' always a kind word?
Yes, when used as an adjective, it is always positive, describing someone who is calm, enduring, and tolerant. When used as a noun, it is a neutral professional term for someone receiving medical care.