How do you say CPR in Spanish?

The Spanish abbreviation for CPR is RCP, which stands for reanimación cardiopulmonar and follows Spanish word order rather than the English cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Is RCP used in all Spanish-speaking countries?

Medical professionals throughout Latin America and Spain universally recognize RCP as the standard abbreviation for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

How do you ask someone to perform CPR in Spanish?

You would say Haga RCP or Aplique RCP in a formal context, or Hazle RCP in an informal emergency situation.

Spanish vocabulary · Intermediate

How to Say CPR in Spanish: RCP

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

RCP · noun (feminine) · EH-reh-seh-PEH

CPR in Spanish is RCP, which stands for reanimación cardiopulmonar. This abbreviation follows the Spanish word order and is used in all medical settings across Spanish-speaking countries.

RCP is pronounced EH-reh-seh-PEH, spelling out each letter in Spanish.

El paramédico aplicó RCP de inmediato.

The paramedic applied CPR immediately.

CPR in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for cpr, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
RCP	cpr	EH-reh-seh-PEH	Default, widely understood
reanimación cardiopulmonar	cpr		full medical term

How Native Speakers Use RCP

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Emergency situation

¿Alguien sabe hacer RCP? Este hombre no respira.

Does anyone know how to do CPR? This man isn't breathing.

Urgent request in an emergency.

Training course

Tomé un curso de RCP y primeros auxilios el mes pasado.

I took a CPR and first aid course last month.

Discussing certification training.

Medical instructions

Hay que comenzar la RCP antes de que llegue la ambulancia.

You need to start CPR before the ambulance arrives.

Medical professional giving instructions.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using RCP

Using English abbreviation

Incorrect: El doctor hizo CPR al paciente.

Correct: El doctor hizo RCP al paciente.

Spanish uses RCP (reanimación cardiopulmonar), not the English abbreviation CPR.

Wrong gender article

Incorrect: El RCP salvó su vida.

Correct: La RCP salvó su vida.

RCP is feminine because reanimación is a feminine noun.

Lock in CPR 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 RCP used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using RCP in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El paramédico aplicó RCP de inmediato. 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 CPR in Spanish

How do you say CPR in Spanish?: The Spanish abbreviation for CPR is RCP, which stands for reanimación cardiopulmonar and follows Spanish word order rather than the English cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Is RCP used in all Spanish-speaking countries?: Medical professionals throughout Latin America and Spain universally recognize RCP as the standard abbreviation for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
How do you ask someone to perform CPR in Spanish?: You would say Haga RCP or Aplique RCP in a formal context, or Hazle RCP in an informal emergency situation.