urgencia
/oor-HEN-syah/
urgency
A ringing bell illustrates the sense of urgency and the need for immediate attention.
urgencia(noun)
urgency
?the quality of needing immediate attention
haste
?the need to move quickly
,pressure
?time-related stress
📝 In Action
No hay ninguna urgencia, tómate tu tiempo.
A1There is no urgency, take your time.
Atendieron el asunto con mucha urgencia.
B1They handled the matter with great urgency.
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Word Pattern
Most Spanish words ending in '-cia' are feminine. You should always use feminine markers like 'la' or 'una' with it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'urgencia' as an adjective
Mistake: "Es muy urgencia."
Correction: Es muy urgente.
⭐ Usage Tips
Acting as an Adverb
To say 'urgently,' you can say 'urgentemente,' but it is much more common and natural to say 'con urgencia' (with urgency).
An ambulance represents a medical emergency that requires a fast response.
urgencia(noun)
emergency
?a sudden medical crisis
,ER / Emergency Room
?the hospital department
crisis
?a pressing problem
📝 In Action
Es una urgencia médica, llame a la ambulancia.
A2It is a medical emergency, call the ambulance.
Llevamos al abuelo a urgencias.
A1We took grandpa to the emergency room.
💡 Grammar Points
The Plural Hospital Rule
When referring to the hospital department (the ER), Spanish speakers almost always use the plural form 'urgencias' instead of the singular.
⭐ Usage Tips
Urgencia vs. Emergencia
In hospitals, a 'medical urgencia' is serious but not necessarily life-threatening right this second, while an 'emergencia' is a critical life-or-death situation. However, in casual talk, people use both interchangeably.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: urgencia
Question 1 of 2
How do you say 'I am going to the Emergency Room' naturally in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'urgencia' the same as 'emergencia'?
Mostly, yes. In a hospital, an 'emergencia' is technically more life-threatening than an 'urgencia,' but in daily life, they are used as synonyms.
Why is it plural in 'sala de urgencias'?
It's a language habit! Just like in English we might say 'Sports center' (plural) even if you only play one sport, Spanish views the ER as a place where many 'urgencies' are handled.