Inklingo

How to Say "lozenge" in Spanish

English → Spanish

caramelo

kah-rah-MEH-loh/ka.ɾaˈme.lo/

nounA1general
Use 'caramelo' when referring to a sweet, often flavored, that is sucked on, especially one intended to soothe a sore throat or act as a cough drop.
A single piece of shiny, spherical hard candy wrapped in clear cellophane, tied at the ends.

Examples

Me duele la garganta, así que voy a tomar un caramelo de miel.

My throat hurts, so I'm going to take a honey lozenge.

Mi abuela siempre tiene caramelos de menta en su bolso.

My grandmother always has mint candies in her purse.

No comas tantos caramelos antes de la cena.

Don't eat so many sweets before dinner.

Este caramelo es para la tos, no es muy dulce.

This lozenge is for the cough, it's not very sweet.

Masculine Noun

Even though many Spanish words ending in '-a' are feminine, 'caramelo' ends in '-o' and is always masculine, so you use 'el caramelo' or 'un caramelo'.

pastilla

/pas-TEE-yah//pasˈtiʝa/

nounA1general
Use 'pastilla' when referring to a small, solid medicinal dose, which can include throat lozenges but also applies to pills taken for other ailments.
A single round blue medicinal pill on a plain surface.

Examples

El médico me recetó una pastilla para la tos.

The doctor prescribed me a cough lozenge/pill.

Tengo que tomar una pastilla para el dolor de cabeza.

I have to take a pill for my headache.

¿Cuántas pastillas te recetó el médico?

How many pills did the doctor prescribe you?

Gender and Articles

This word is feminine, so you should always use 'la' or 'una' with it (la pastilla, una pastilla).

Using 'Pillar' vs 'Tomar'

Mistake: “Yo pillo una pastilla.”

Correction: Always use 'tomar' (to take) when talking about medicine. Say 'tomo una pastilla'.

Caramelo vs. Pastilla

Learners often confuse 'caramelo' and 'pastilla' because both can refer to throat soothers. Remember that 'caramelo' specifically implies a sweet candy, while 'pastilla' is a more general term for a small, solid medicinal form, including pills.

Related Translations

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