Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Gallstones in Spanish: Cálculos Biliares
Cálculos Biliares · noun · KAHL-koo-lohs bee-lee-AH-rehs
Cálculos biliares is the medical Spanish term for gallstones, the hardened deposits that form in the gallbladder.
KAHL-koo-lohs bee-lee-AH-rehs
Le diagnosticaron cálculos biliares.
He was diagnosed with gallstones.
Gallstones in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for gallstones, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| cálculos biliares | gallstones | KAHL-koo-lohs bee-lee-AH-rehs | Default, widely understood |
| piedras en la vesícula | gallstones | colloquial |
How Native Speakers Use Cálculos Biliares
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Diagnosis
La ecografía reveló cálculos biliares.
The ultrasound revealed gallstones.
Receiving medical test results.
Colloquial usage
Mi abuela tiene piedras en la vesícula.
My grandmother has gallstones.
Informally discussing a relative's condition.
Treatment
Tuvieron que operarla para extraer los cálculos biliares.
They had to operate on her to remove the gallstones.
Describing a surgical procedure.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Cálculos Biliares
Using wrong body part term
Incorrect: Tiene cálculos en el hígado.
Correct: Tiene cálculos en la vesícula biliar.
Gallstones form in the gallbladder (vesícula biliar), not the liver (hígado) — though they can occasionally migrate to the bile duct.
Singular vs plural
Incorrect: Le encontraron un cálculos biliar.
Correct: Le encontraron un cálculo biliar.
When referring to a single gallstone, use the singular form cálculo biliar, not the plural cálculos.
Lock in Gallstones 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 Cálculos Biliares used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using cálculos biliares in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Le diagnosticaron cálculos biliares. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Gallstones in Spanish
- How do you say 'gallstones' in Spanish?
- The medical term is cálculos biliares, while in everyday conversation people often say piedras en la vesícula (stones in the gallbladder).
- What is the gallbladder called in Spanish?
- The gallbladder is called vesícula biliar, or simply vesícula in casual speech.
- How would you describe gallstone symptoms to a Spanish-speaking doctor?
- You could say tengo un dolor fuerte en el lado derecho del abdomen, which means I have a strong pain on the right side of my abdomen — a common symptom associated with gallstones.