Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Lice in Spanish
Piojos · noun · PYOH-hohs
The Spanish word for lice is 'piojos,' the plural of 'piojo.' These tiny parasitic insects that live on the scalp are a common concern among school-age children worldwide. The related word 'liendres' refers specifically to nits (lice eggs). Knowing these terms is helpful for communicating with Spanish-speaking healthcare providers and school staff.
Piojos is pronounced PYOH-hohs. The 'j' creates a strong 'h' sound, and the stress falls on the first syllable. The singular piojo is pronounced PYOH-hoh.
La enfermera revisó a los niños para detectar piojos.
The nurse checked the children for lice.
Lice in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for lice, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| piojos | lice | PYOH-hohs | Default, widely understood |
| piojo | lice | singular form for one louse | |
| liendres | lice | refers to nits or lice eggs |
How Native Speakers Use Piojos
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
School notification
La escuela envió una nota porque hay casos de piojos.
The school sent a note because there are cases of lice.
A common communication from schools to parents.
Treatment
Compramos un champú especial para eliminar los piojos.
We bought a special shampoo to get rid of the lice.
Discussing lice treatment at the pharmacy.
Prevention
Revisa la cabeza de tu hija para asegurarte de que no tenga piojos.
Check your daughter's head to make sure she doesn't have lice.
Parental advice about prevention and early detection.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Piojos
Wrong gender article
Incorrect: La piojo es difícil de ver.
Correct: El piojo es difícil de ver.
Piojo is a masculine noun, requiring the article 'el' in singular and 'los' in plural.
Confusing piojos with liendres
Incorrect: Encontré piojos pegados al pelo.
Correct: Encontré liendres pegadas al pelo.
If the objects are attached to hair strands, they are 'liendres' (nits/eggs), not adult piojos, which move freely on the scalp.
Lock in Lice 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 Piojos used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using piojos in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear La enfermera revisó a los niños para detectar piojos. 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 Lice in Spanish
- What is the singular of piojos?
- The singular form is 'piojo,' referring to one individual louse, while 'piojos' is the plural used for an infestation.
- What are liendres?
- Liendres are the eggs or nits that lice attach to individual hair strands, and they must be removed with a fine-toothed comb as part of treatment.
- How do you say 'lice treatment' in Spanish?
- Lice treatment translates to 'tratamiento para piojos' or 'tratamiento antipiojos,' commonly found on over-the-counter products in pharmacies.