How to Say "chronic" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “chronic” is “crónico” — B1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Mi abuela sufre de dolor crónico en la espalda.
My grandmother suffers from chronic back pain.
La diabetes es una enfermedad crónica que requiere cuidado constante.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that requires constant care.
El paciente fue diagnosticado con fatiga crónica.
The patient was diagnosed with chronic fatigue.
Matching the Noun
This word changes its ending to match the thing it describes. Use 'crónico' for masculine words (el dolor) and 'crónica' for feminine words (la enfermedad).
Word Order
In Spanish, 'crónico' almost always comes after the noun it describes, unlike in English where 'chronic' comes before.
Chronic vs. Severe
Mistake: “Using 'crónico' to mean 'extremely painful' in the short term.”
Correction: Use 'agudo' for a sudden, intense pain and 'crónico' only for something that has lasted a long time (usually more than 3-6 months).
Other Meanings of “crónico”
“crónico” can also mean:
- habitual or deep-seated problems(B2)
Related Translations
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