How to Say "quarantine" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “quarantine” is “cuarentena” — use this word specifically for a period of isolation required for medical or public health reasons, such as after travel or exposure to a contagious disease..
cuarentena
/kwah-rehn-teh-nah//kwaɾenˈtena/
Examples
El gobierno extendió la cuarentena obligatoria para los viajeros internacionales.
The government extended the mandatory quarantine for international travelers.
El viajero tuvo que cumplir una cuarentena de diez días.
The traveler had to complete a ten-day quarantine.
Pusieron el barco en cuarentena al llegar al puerto.
They put the ship in quarantine upon arriving at the port.
Durante la cuarentena, mucha gente aprendió a cocinar.
During the quarantine, many people learned how to cook.
Feminine Noun
This is a feminine word, so you should always use 'la' or 'una' with it (la cuarentena).
Not exactly 40 days
Mistake: “Thinking it must last 40 days.”
Correction: In modern Spanish, it refers to any period of isolation for health, whether it is 7, 10, or 14 days.
aislamiento
ice-la-MYEN-toe/aislaˈmjento/
Examples
Debido a la pandemia, muchos experimentaron un profundo aislamiento social.
Due to the pandemic, many experienced profound social isolation.
El aislamiento social puede afectar la salud mental.
Social isolation can affect mental health.
El paciente estuvo en aislamiento durante dos semanas.
The patient was in isolation for two weeks.
Ending Pattern
Most Spanish words ending in '-miento' are masculine nouns and describe the result of an action.
Isolation vs. Loneliness
Mistake: “Using 'aislamiento' to mean 'feeling lonely'.”
Correction: Use 'soledad' for the feeling of loneliness and 'aislamiento' for the physical state of being apart.
Cuarentena vs. Aislamiento
Related Translations
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