Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Lung in Spanish: Pulmón
Pulmón · noun · pool-MOHN
Pulmón is the Spanish word for lung, the essential respiratory organ that enables breathing by exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body. The plural pulmones refers to both lungs together, and the adjective pulmonar (pulmonary) appears frequently in medical terminology. Spanish speakers use the phrase a pleno pulmón (at full lung) as a vivid idiom meaning 'at the top of one's lungs.'
Pulmón is two syllables with the stress on the second: pool-MOHN. The accent mark on the o is mandatory in writing and indicates the departure from the default stress pattern.
El médico detectó una mancha en el pulmón derecho.
The doctor detected a spot on the right lung.
How Native Speakers Use Pulmón
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Medical diagnosis
La radiografía mostró una infección en el pulmón izquierdo.
The X-ray showed an infection in the left lung.
Standard medical context for discussing lung conditions.
Health advice
Dejar de fumar es lo mejor que puedes hacer por tus pulmones.
Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your lungs.
Public health messaging about lung care.
Idiomatic expression
Los niños cantaban a pleno pulmón durante la fiesta.
The children were singing at the top of their lungs during the party.
A pleno pulmón is a common expressive idiom.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Pulmón
Accent omission
Incorrect: Respira con todo el pulmon.
Correct: Respira con todo el pulmón.
The written accent on pulmón is not optional; without it, the stress would incorrectly shift to the first syllable, and the word would be misspelled.
Plural formation
Incorrect: Los pulmónes están sanos.
Correct: Los pulmones están sanos.
When pulmón becomes plural, the accent mark is dropped because pulmones naturally carries stress on the penultimate syllable, following standard Spanish stress rules.
Lock in Lung 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 Pulmón used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using pulmón in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El médico detectó una mancha en el pulmón derecho. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Lung in Spanish
- What does 'a pleno pulmón' mean?
- A pleno pulmón literally translates to 'at full lung' and means to do something with maximum vocal force — singing, shouting, or laughing as loudly as possible. The idiom is equivalent to the English phrase 'at the top of one's lungs' and appears frequently in descriptions of enthusiastic crowds, children playing, and passionate singers.
- How do you say 'lung cancer' in Spanish?
- Lung cancer is cáncer de pulmón in Spanish. In medical reports, you may also encounter the term carcinoma pulmonar or neoplasia pulmonar. When discussing the disease informally, most people simply say cáncer de pulmón, which is universally understood.
- What is the difference between 'pulmón' and 'pulmonar'?
- Pulmón is the noun meaning the organ itself (the lung), while pulmonar is the adjective meaning 'relating to the lungs.' Medical terms frequently use the adjective form: enfermedad pulmonar (pulmonary disease), capacidad pulmonar (lung capacity), and embolia pulmonar (pulmonary embolism).