Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

How to Say Gall Bladder in Spanish: Vesícula Biliar

Vesícula Biliar · noun phrase (feminine) · beh-SEE-koo-lah bee-LYAR

The Spanish term for gall bladder is 'vesícula biliar,' a feminine noun phrase referring to the small organ that stores bile beneath the liver. In everyday conversation, it is often shortened to just 'vesícula.' Gall bladder surgery (cholecystectomy) is one of the most common procedures in Spanish-speaking countries.

Say beh-SEE-koo-lah bee-LYAR, with the stress on the second syllable of 'vesícula' and the last syllable of 'biliar.'

El cirujano le extirpó la vesícula biliar la semana pasada.

The surgeon removed his gall bladder last week.

Gall Bladder in Spanish: Quick Reference

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

SpanishEnglishPronunciationRegion / Register
vesícula biliargall bladderbeh-SEE-koo-lah bee-LYARDefault, widely understood
vesículagall bladdershortened informal form

How Native Speakers Use Vesícula Biliar

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

Medical diagnosis

Le encontraron piedras en la vesícula biliar.

They found stones in his gall bladder.

Receiving results from a medical examination.

Surgery discussion

La operación de vesícula biliar es mínimamente invasiva hoy en día.

Gall bladder surgery is minimally invasive nowadays.

Discussing a surgical procedure with a doctor.

Symptoms

El dolor en el lado derecho puede ser un problema de vesícula.

Pain on the right side can be a gall bladder problem.

Identifying possible symptoms.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Vesícula Biliar

Inventing a direct translation

Incorrect: Mi doctor revisó mi vejiga biliar.

Correct: Mi doctor revisó mi vesícula biliar.

'Vejiga' means urinary bladder, not gall bladder. 'Vesícula biliar' is the correct medical term for gall bladder.

Forgetting the accent

Incorrect: Me operaron de la vesicula.

Correct: Me operaron de la vesícula.

The accent on 'vesícula' is necessary because it is an esdrújula word (stressed on the third-to-last syllable), which always requires a written accent in Spanish.

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See Vesícula Biliar used by native speakers

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Common Questions About Gall Bladder in Spanish

Can you just say vesícula without biliar?
In everyday medical conversations, most Spanish speakers simply say 'vesícula' and the meaning is understood as gall bladder, though 'vesícula biliar' is the complete and precise medical term.
What are gallstones called in Spanish?
Gallstones are called 'cálculos biliares' or 'piedras en la vesícula,' with the latter being the more colloquial expression used in everyday speech.
How do you say gall bladder surgery in Spanish?
Gall bladder surgery is referred to as 'colecistectomía' in medical terminology or more commonly as 'operación de vesícula' or 'cirugía de vesícula' in everyday language.