síndrome

/SEEN-droh-meh/

syndrome

A figure sitting down looking fatigued or unwell, surrounded by three distinct, floating symbols representing multiple symptoms: a red lightning bolt for pain, a blue swirling cloud for confusion, and a yellow droplet for fever. This illustrates a medical syndrome.

When used in a medical context, síndrome refers to a collection of signs and symptoms that characterize a particular medical or psychological condition (syndrome).

síndrome(noun)

mB1

syndrome

medical or psychological condition

Also:

set of symptoms

description of an illness

📝 In Action

El doctor identificó los síntomas y confirmó el síndrome.

The doctor identified the symptoms and confirmed the syndrome.

El síndrome de Down es una condición genética muy conocida.

Down syndrome is a very well-known genetic condition.

Word Connections

Synonyms

afección (condition)
padecimiento (ailment)

Common Collocations

síndrome de abstinencia – withdrawal syndrome
síndrome del túnel carpiano – carpal tunnel syndrome

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun Rule

'Síndrome' is always masculine, even though it ends in '-e'. You must use 'el' or 'un' before it (e.g., 'el síndrome').

Making it Plural

To make it plural, you simply add an 's': 'los síndromes'. The stress stays on the 'i'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Gender Confusion

Mistake: "La síndrome"

Correction: El síndrome. Remember that words ending in -ma, -pa, or -ta that come from Greek, like 'síndrome', are usually masculine.

⭐ Usage Tips

Using the Article

In Spanish, we usually use the definite article ('el') when naming a specific syndrome, unlike in English where it's sometimes omitted: 'Tengo el síndrome de fatiga'.

A winding path composed entirely of repeating, small, identical dark gray broken chain links, symbolizing a predictable and recurring negative pattern.

Síndrome can also describe a recurring pattern or set of negative behaviors and characteristics observed in a non-medical situation.

síndrome(noun)

mB2

pattern

a set of recurring negative behaviors or characteristics

Also:

tendency

a problematic trend

📝 In Action

Ella sufre del síndrome del impostor y no cree en su propio talento.

She suffers from imposter syndrome and doesn't believe in her own talent.

La oficina tiene un síndrome de 'siempre lo hemos hecho así' que impide el cambio.

The office has an 'we've always done it this way' syndrome that prevents change.

Word Connections

Synonyms

patrón (pattern)
tendencia (tendency)

Common Collocations

síndrome de Peter Pan – Peter Pan syndrome (refusal to grow up)

⭐ Usage Tips

Figurative Meaning

When used outside of medicine, 'síndrome' often describes a collection of negative habits or a resistance to change within a person or group.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: síndrome

Question 1 of 2

Choose the correct way to say 'The syndromes' in Spanish.

📚 More Resources

Word Family

sintomatología(symptomology) - noun

diagnóstico(diagnosis) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

¿Es 'síndrome' una palabra técnica?

Aunque 'síndrome' es una palabra médica, es muy común y se usa a menudo en conversaciones diarias y en las noticias. Además, se utiliza para describir patrones de comportamiento negativos en general (por ejemplo, el síndrome del impostor).

Si termina en -e, ¿por qué no es femenino?

La mayoría de las palabras que terminan en -e pueden ser masculinas o femeninas, pero 'síndrome' es una excepción que viene del griego y es consistentemente masculina (el síndrome), al igual que otras palabras como 'el clima' o 'el tema'.