salud
/sa-lood/
health
As a noun, 'salud' means 'health' or 'well-being,' often associated with vitality and energy.
salud(Noun)
health
?general physical or mental condition
wholesomeness
?the quality of being good for you
📝 In Action
La salud es lo más importante.
A1Health is the most important thing.
Hago ejercicio para cuidar mi salud.
A2I exercise to take care of my health.
El sistema de salud pública necesita más inversión.
B1The public health system needs more investment.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
Even though it doesn't end in '-a', 'salud' is a feminine word. So, you always say 'la salud' (the health) or 'buena salud' (good health).
❌ Common Pitfalls
'Salud' vs. 'Sanidad'
Mistake: "Mi sanidad es buena."
Correction: Mi salud es buena. 'Salud' refers to your personal health. 'Sanidad' usually refers to the public health system as a whole.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Problems
To talk about health-related issues, you can use the structure 'problemas de salud' (problems of health), which is like saying 'health problems' in English.
When used as an interjection, '¡Salud!' is the equivalent of 'Cheers!' when making a toast.
salud(Interjection)
Bless you!
?said after someone sneezes
,Cheers!
?said when clinking glasses for a toast
📝 In Action
A: ¡Achís! B: ¡Salud!
A1A: Achoo! B: Bless you!
Levantemos las copas. ¡Salud!
A1Let's raise our glasses. Cheers!
¡Salud! Por un año nuevo lleno de felicidad.
A2Cheers! To a new year full of happiness.
💡 Grammar Points
A Standalone Word
When used as 'Cheers!' or 'Bless you!', 'salud' is a complete thought on its own. It doesn't change form or need other words around it.
⭐ Usage Tips
The Sneeze Sequence
In many Spanish-speaking places, there's a fun tradition for multiple sneezes. First sneeze: '¡Salud!' (Health!). Second: '¡Dinero!' (Money!). Third: '¡Amor!' (Love!).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: salud
Question 1 of 1
You and your friends raise your glasses to celebrate a birthday. What do you say as you clink them together?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Spanish speakers say 'salud' when someone sneezes?
It's a very old tradition, similar to 'Bless you' in English. The idea is to wish the person good health ('salud') to prevent them from getting sick, as a sneeze was historically seen as a possible first sign of illness.
Is 'salud' related to 'saludar' (to greet)?
Yes, they come from the same Latin root! A greeting ('saludo') was originally a way of wishing someone good health. So when you say 'hola,' you're participating in a very old tradition of wishing people well.