Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Cardiac Arrest in Spanish: Paro Cardíaco
Paro Cardíaco · noun · PAH-roh kar-DEE-ah-koh
Paro cardíaco is the Spanish medical term for cardiac arrest, the sudden loss of heart function. 'Paro' means a stop or halt, and 'cardíaco' is the adjective relating to the heart. In Spain, the feminine form 'parada cardíaca' is preferred, while Latin America predominantly uses 'paro cardíaco.'
PAH-roh kar-DEE-ah-koh
El paciente sufrió un paro cardíaco en la ambulancia.
The patient suffered cardiac arrest in the ambulance.
Cardiac Arrest in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for cardiac arrest, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| paro cardíaco | cardiac arrest | PAH-roh kar-DEE-ah-koh | Default, widely understood |
| parada cardíaca | cardiac arrest | Spain | |
| paro cardiaco | cardiac arrest | without accent (informal) |
How Native Speakers Use Paro Cardíaco
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Emergency
Llamen al 911, creo que está teniendo un paro cardíaco.
Call 911, I think he's having cardiac arrest.
An emergency situation requiring immediate help.
Medical report
La causa de muerte fue un paro cardíaco súbito.
The cause of death was sudden cardiac arrest.
Reading or discussing a medical report.
Spain variant
El desfibrilador se usa cuando hay una parada cardíaca.
The defibrillator is used when there is a cardiac arrest.
Medical equipment explanation in Spain.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Paro Cardíaco
Confusing with heart attack
Incorrect: Tuvo un paro cardíaco porque una arteria estaba bloqueada.
Correct: Tuvo un infarto porque una arteria estaba bloqueada.
A blocked artery causes a heart attack (infarto), not cardiac arrest (paro cardíaco). Cardiac arrest is when the heart stops beating entirely, while a heart attack is a circulation problem.
Wrong adjective form
Incorrect: Sufrió un paro del corazón cardiac.
Correct: Sufrió un paro cardíaco.
The English adjective 'cardiac' cannot be inserted into Spanish. Use the Spanish adjective 'cardíaco' or the phrase 'paro del corazón' as an informal alternative.
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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 Paro Cardíaco used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using paro cardíaco in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El paciente sufrió un paro cardíaco en la ambulancia. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Cardiac Arrest in Spanish
- What is the difference between paro cardíaco and infarto?
- A paro cardíaco occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating, while an infarto (heart attack) happens when blood flow to part of the heart is blocked. A heart attack can lead to cardiac arrest, but they are distinct medical events with different immediate treatments.
- Is it paro cardíaco or paro cardiaco (without accent)?
- The Real Academia Española accepts both spellings: 'cardíaco' (with accent, four syllables) and 'cardiaco' (without accent, three syllables with a diphthong). The accented form 'cardíaco' is more common in formal medical writing.
- How would I describe CPR in Spanish during an emergency?
- CPR is called 'reanimación cardiopulmonar' or simply 'RCP' in Spanish. During an emergency, you might say 'Hay que hacerle RCP' (We need to perform CPR on them) or 'Necesita reanimación inmediata' (They need immediate resuscitation).