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How to Say "cerumen" in Spanish

English → Spanish

cera

seh-rahˈseɾa

nounB1formal/medical term
Use 'cera' when referring to earwax in a general or everyday context, or when describing it as a substance that accumulates in the ear.
A close-up of a cotton swab with a small amount of yellow wax on the tip.

Examples

El niño tiene mucha cera en los oídos.

The boy has a lot of earwax in his ears.

Plural Use

When talking about earwax in both ears, you still usually use the singular 'cera'.

cerilla

seh-ree-yahθeˈɾiʎa

nounB1medical term
Use 'cerilla' when referring to earwax specifically as a medical term, especially when discussing blockages or medical procedures related to the ear.
A small yellow cotton swab used for cleaning.

Examples

El médico me quitó un tapón de cerilla.

The doctor removed an earwax blockage from me.

Es normal tener un poco de cerilla en los oídos.

It is normal to have a bit of earwax in your ears.

No uses bastoncillos para limpiar la cerilla.

Don't use cotton swabs to clean earwax.

Non-count vs Count

Just like in English, you usually talk about 'cerilla' as a mass of stuff, so you use it in the singular form most of the time.

Confusing wax types

Choosing Between 'Cera' and 'Cerilla'

The most common mistake is using 'cerilla' in everyday conversation. While technically correct, 'cera' is more frequently used for general earwax. Reserve 'cerilla' for more formal or medical discussions about earwax blockages.

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