How to Say "sickness" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “sickness” is “enfermedad” — A1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
English → SpanishA1
nounA1
general poor health
Examples
La gripe es una enfermedad muy contagiosa.
The flu is a very contagious illness.
El doctor identificó la enfermedad rápidamente.
The doctor identified the disease quickly.
¿Qué enfermedad tiene el niño?
What sickness does the child have?
Gender Rule for '-dad'
Almost all Spanish nouns ending in -dad are feminine. This means you must use 'la' or 'una' before it: 'la enfermedad' (the illness).
Confusing Noun and Adjective
Mistake: “Using 'enfermedad' (noun) when you mean 'enfermo' (adjective): 'El hombre está enfermedad.'”
Correction: Use the adjective 'enfermo' (sick) instead: 'El hombre está enfermo.' 'Enfermedad' is the state of being sick.
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.