urgencias
/oor-HEN-see-as/
emergency room
When you need immediate medical attention, you go to the urgencias (emergency room).
urgencias(noun)
emergency room
?hospital department
,ER
?abbreviation
A&E department
?UK English, Accident and Emergency
📝 In Action
Llevamos al niño a urgencias porque se cayó de la bicicleta.
A2We took the child to the emergency room because he fell off the bike.
La sala de urgencias está siempre llena los fines de semana.
B1The emergency ward is always full on weekends.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Plural
Even though it refers to a single department, 'urgencias' is almost always used in the plural form ('las urgencias') when talking about the hospital area.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Singular
Mistake: "Fui a la urgencia."
Correction: Fui a urgencias. (You must use the plural form when referring to the ER.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Shortened Form
In Spain and many Latin American countries, you usually just say 'urgencias' rather than the full phrase 'sala de urgencias'.
If you have several urgencias (urgent matters), you need to prioritize which tasks to complete first.
urgencias(noun)
urgent matters
?a list of pressing tasks
,emergencies
?general urgent situations
pressing needs
?high priority requirements
📝 In Action
El gerente tiene que solucionar las urgencias antes de la reunión.
B1The manager has to sort out the urgent matters before the meeting.
Las urgencias del país requieren atención inmediata.
C1The country's emergencies require immediate attention.
💡 Grammar Points
Plural for Collection
In this sense, using the plural 'urgencias' implies a collection or list of things that are urgent, rather than just the abstract quality of 'urgency' (which is 'la urgencia').
⭐ Usage Tips
Professional Use
This meaning is common in professional or administrative settings when prioritizing tasks or problems.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: urgencias
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'urgencias' to mean the hospital department?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'urgencias' plural when referring to a single room?
This is a common feature in Spanish! When referring to certain service departments, the plural form is used to indicate the general scope of the service—in this case, the handling of 'multiple urgent situations.' Think of it like saying 'Services' or 'Headquarters' in English, which are also often treated as plural nouns.