How to Say "unhealthy" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “unhealthy” is “enfermo” — A1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Hoy no voy a la escuela porque estoy enfermo.
I'm not going to school today because I'm sick.
Mi gato ha estado enfermo toda la semana.
My cat has been ill all week.
Tiene una mente enferma y retorcida.
He has a sick and twisted mind.
Matches the Person/Thing it Describes
This word changes to match if you're talking about someone masculine, feminine, or a group. enfermo (masculine), enferma (feminine), enfermos (masculine plural), enfermas (feminine plural).
Use 'estar' for Being Sick
To say someone is sick right now, you almost always use the verb estar. For example, Él está enfermo. (He is sick). It describes a temporary state or condition.
Using 'ser' instead of 'estar'
Mistake: “Mi padre es enfermo.”
Correction: Mi padre está enfermo. Using 'ser' makes it sound like being sick is a permanent part of his identity, which is very rare. For the temporary state of being sick, always use 'estar'.
Forgetting to Match Gender
Mistake: “Mi hermana está enfermo.”
Correction: Mi hermana está enferma. Because 'hermana' is feminine, the word describing her must also end in '-a'.
Related Translations
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