Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Bruise in Spanish: Moretón
Moretón · noun · moh-reh-TOHN
Moretón is the most widely used Spanish word for bruise, describing the discolored mark on the skin caused by an impact that breaks blood vessels beneath the surface.
moh-reh-TOHN
Me salió un moretón enorme en el brazo.
I got a huge bruise on my arm.
Bruise in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for bruise, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| moretón | bruise | moh-reh-TOHN | Default, widely understood |
| hematoma | bruise | medical / formal register | |
| morado | bruise | colloquial in some Latin American countries | |
| cardenal | bruise | Spain |
How Native Speakers Use Moretón
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
After an accident
Se cayó de la bicicleta y tiene moretones en las rodillas.
She fell off the bicycle and has bruises on her knees.
Describing injuries after a minor bike accident.
At the doctor
Estos moretones aparecieron sin ningún golpe, doctor.
These bruises appeared without any impact, doctor.
Reporting unexplained bruising during a medical visit.
First aid
Pon hielo en el moretón para bajar la hinchazón.
Put ice on the bruise to reduce the swelling.
Giving first-aid advice after a bump.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Moretón
Using morado as a noun everywhere
Incorrect: Tengo un morado grande en la pierna.
Correct: Tengo un moretón grande en la pierna.
Morado primarily means purple; while it is slang for bruise in some regions, moretón is universally understood across all Spanish-speaking countries.
Forgetting the augmentative origin
Incorrect: Tengo varios moretónes en el cuerpo.
Correct: Tengo varios moretones en el cuerpo.
The plural of moretón drops the accent: moretones, following standard Spanish pluralization rules for words ending in -ón.
Lock in Bruise Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Moretón used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using moretón in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Me salió un moretón enorme en el brazo. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Bruise in Spanish
- How do you say 'bruise' in Spanish?
- The most universal word is moretón, understood across Latin America and Spain, though regional alternatives include cardenal (Spain) and hematoma (medical contexts).
- What is a cardenal in Spanish?
- In Spain, cardenal is the everyday word for a bruise on the skin — it is unrelated to the religious title or the bird, and is equivalent to moretón in Latin America.
- How do you say 'I bruised my leg' using a verb?
- You can say me golpeé la pierna (I hit my leg) or me hice un moretón en la pierna (I got a bruise on my leg), since Spanish does not have a single dedicated verb for 'to bruise.'