Inklingo

How to Say "tablet" in Spanish

English → Spanish

pastilla

/pas-TEE-yah//pasˈtiʝa/

nounA1medicine
Use 'pastilla' for a general-purpose pill or tablet, especially when referring to medication for common ailments like headaches or pain.
A single round blue medicinal pill on a plain surface.

Examples

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'.

píldora

nounA2medical
Use 'píldora' when referring to a specific type of tablet, most notably birth control pills, or sometimes for a more formal or technical term for medication.

Examples

El médico me dijo que tomara una píldora después de cenar.

The doctor told me to take a pill after dinner.

Pastilla vs. Píldora: General vs. Specific

The most common mistake is using 'píldora' for any type of medicine. Remember that 'pastilla' is the everyday, general word for a pill. Reserve 'píldora' for specific contexts, especially birth control, or when you want to sound more formal.

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