Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Blister in Spanish
Ampolla · noun · ahm-POH-yah
A blister on the skin is called 'ampolla' in Spanish. The same word also means a small glass vial used for injectable medications. For the blister packaging of pills, the anglicism 'blíster' is used in pharmaceutical contexts.
Pronounced ahm-POH-yah with stress on the second syllable. The double 'l' produces a 'y' sound in most dialects. The word is feminine: la ampolla.
Me salió una ampolla en el talón por los zapatos nuevos.
I got a blister on my heel from the new shoes.
Blister in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for blister, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| ampolla | blister | ahm-POH-yah | Default, widely understood |
| vejiga | blister | some regions for skin blister | |
| blíster | blister | medication packaging |
How Native Speakers Use Ampolla
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
New shoes
Estas botas me hicieron ampollas en los dos pies.
These boots gave me blisters on both feet.
Friction blisters from footwear.
Burn blister
No revientes la ampolla de la quemadura; se puede infectar.
Don't pop the blister from the burn; it could get infected.
Medical advice about burn care.
Sun damage
La quemadura solar fue tan grave que le salieron ampollas.
The sunburn was so severe that blisters formed.
Blisters caused by excessive sun exposure.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Ampolla
Confusing ampolla meanings
Incorrect: La enfermera me puso una ampolla en el pie. (meaning injection vial)
Correct: Me salió una ampolla en el pie. / La enfermera me inyectó una ampolla. (vial)
'Ampolla' means both skin blister and medicine vial; use context-appropriate verbs: 'salir' for blisters forming, 'inyectar' for medical vials.
Using blíster for skin blister
Incorrect: Tengo un blíster en la mano por la raqueta.
Correct: Tengo una ampolla en la mano por la raqueta.
'Blíster' in Spanish only refers to medication packaging (pill blister packs), never to skin blisters.
Lock in Blister Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
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See Ampolla used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Blister in Spanish
- Does ampolla also mean something medical?
- In addition to skin blisters, 'ampolla' refers to a small sealed glass container holding liquid medication for injection, commonly seen in hospitals and clinics as 'ampolla inyectable.'
- How do I say 'to pop a blister'?
- The phrase is 'reventar una ampolla' or 'pinchar una ampolla,' though medical advice typically warns against this with 'no revientes/pinches la ampolla.'
- What causes blisters and how is this described in Spanish?
- Common causes described in Spanish include 'fricción' (friction from shoes or tools), 'quemaduras' (burns), and 'rozaduras' (chafing), with the verb 'salir' used: 'me salió una ampolla por la fricción.'