Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Cavities in Spanish: Caries
Caries · noun (feminine plural) · KAH-ree-ehs
Cavities (dental) in Spanish is caries, an invariable feminine noun that stays the same in both singular and plural forms.
Caries is KAH-ree-ehs, with the stress on the first syllable.
El dentista me dijo que tengo dos caries.
The dentist told me I have two cavities.
Cavities in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for cavities, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| caries | cavities | KAH-ree-ehs | Default, widely understood |
| cavidades | cavities | hollow spaces (non-dental) |
How Native Speakers Use Caries
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Dental visit
Tienes que cepillarte bien para evitar las caries.
You have to brush well to avoid cavities.
Dental hygiene advice.
Diagnosis
La caries en esa muela necesita una calza.
The cavity in that molar needs a filling.
Singular dental cavity.
Children's teeth
A mi hijo le salieron caries por comer tantos dulces.
My son got cavities from eating so many sweets.
Common parental concern.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Caries
Adding plural marker
Incorrect: Tengo tres carieses.
Correct: Tengo tres caries.
Caries is invariable—it doesn't change form between singular and plural.
Using cavidad for dental cavity
Incorrect: El dentista encontró una cavidad.
Correct: El dentista encontró una caries.
While cavidad means cavity in a general sense, dental cavities are always called caries in Spanish.
Lock in Cavities 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 Caries used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using caries in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El dentista me dijo que tengo dos caries. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Cavities in Spanish
- How do you say cavities in Spanish?
- Dental cavities are called caries in Spanish, an invariable noun meaning both one cavity and multiple cavities look the same.
- Is caries singular or plural?
- Caries functions as both singular and plural—una caries (one cavity) and varias caries (several cavities)—only the article and context differentiate them.
- How do you say filling (dental) in Spanish?
- A dental filling is called empaste in Spain or calza/tapadura in various Latin American countries.