A stylized illustration of an abnormal biological growth, depicted as a smooth pink sphere with a cluster of small, bumpy purple nodes growing irregularly from its surface.

tumor

too-MOR

nounmB2

tumor?abnormal medical growth

Also:growth?medical mass,swelling?less precise, general term

📝 In Action

El médico ordenó pruebas para saber si el tumor era maligno.

The doctor ordered tests to find out if the tumor was malignant.

Afortunadamente, el tumor resultó ser benigno y fácil de extirpar.

Fortunately, the tumor turned out to be benign and easy to remove.

La investigación se centra en la prevención de tumores cerebrales.

The research focuses on the prevention of brain tumors.

Word Connections

Synonyms

masa (mass)
bulto (lump)

Common Collocations

tumor maligno – malignant tumor
tumor benigno – benign tumor
extirpar un tumor – to remove a tumor

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun Rule

Even though many Spanish nouns ending in -a are feminine, 'tumor' is masculine. Remember to use the masculine articles: 'el tumor' or 'un tumor'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Incorrect Gender

Mistake: "La tumor es peligroso."

Correction: El tumor es peligroso. (It is masculine, so use 'el' and masculine adjectives like 'peligroso'.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Medical Context

This word is almost exclusively used in medical or biological contexts. For a simple, non-medical swelling, use 'hinchazón' or 'bulto'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: tumor

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses the Spanish word 'tumor'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

tumoral(tumoral (adjective)) - adjective

tumores(tumors (plural)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'tumor' used for non-medical lumps or swelling?

While 'tumor' technically means 'swelling,' in modern Spanish, it is almost exclusively reserved for medical masses or growths, particularly those related to cancer. For a general lump or swelling, use 'bulto' or 'hinchazón' instead.

Why is 'tumor' masculine if it ends in -or?

Most Spanish nouns that end in -or are masculine (like *el calor* or *el motor*). 'Tumor' follows this common pattern, even though it refers to a medical condition.