How to Say "on-call duties" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “on-call duties” is “guardias” — B2 level.
English → SpanishB2
NounB2neutral/professional
medical or emergency services
Examples
Los médicos tienen que hacer muchas guardias durante la residencia.
The doctors have to do many on-call shifts during their residency.
Las guardias nocturnas son las más pesadas.
The night shifts are the hardest.
Gender Note: Time
When referring to the shift or period of duty, the singular form is 'la guardia' (feminine), making the plural 'las guardias'.
Using 'Turnos' Instead
Mistake: “Sometimes learners use 'turnos' for long medical duties.”
Correction: While 'turnos' is correct for regular shifts, 'guardias' specifically implies a demanding, often overnight or continuous, duty period.
Related Translations
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