Spanish vocabulary · Intermediate
How to Say Lupus in Spanish: Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico
Lupus · noun (masculine) · LOO-poos
Lupus in Spanish is simply lupus — the term is identical in both languages since it derives from Latin (meaning wolf). The full medical name is lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES in Spanish, SLE in English). It is masculine: el lupus.
LOO-poos — two syllables, stress on the first. The u sounds like English 'oo' in 'hoop' and the final s is clearly pronounced.
El lupus es una enfermedad autoinmune crónica.
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease.
Lupus in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for lupus, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| lupus | lupus | LOO-poos | Default, widely understood |
| lupus eritematoso sistémico | lupus | full medical name (SLE) |
How Native Speakers Use Lupus
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Diagnosis
Le diagnosticaron lupus a los veinticinco años.
She was diagnosed with lupus at twenty-five.
Diagnosticar lupus is the medical phrasing used by doctors across the Spanish-speaking world.
Full medical term
El lupus eritematoso sistémico afecta múltiples órganos.
Systemic lupus erythematosus affects multiple organs.
The full term is used in medical literature and specialist consultations.
Describing symptoms
El lupus puede causar fatiga, dolor articular y erupciones cutáneas.
Lupus can cause fatigue, joint pain, and skin rashes.
Common symptom vocabulary: fatiga, dolor articular, erupciones cutáneas.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Lupus
Trying to translate lupus into a Spanish word
Incorrect: Tiene lobo. (attempting literal translation)
Correct: Tiene lupus.
Although lupus means wolf in Latin, the medical term is not translated. Lupus is used as-is in Spanish medical terminology.
Using feminine article
Incorrect: La lupus es difícil de diagnosticar.
Correct: El lupus es difícil de diagnosticar.
Lupus is masculine in Spanish (el lupus), following the gender of most medical terms ending in -us borrowed from Latin.
Lock in Lupus 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 Lupus used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using lupus in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El lupus es una enfermedad autoinmune crónica. 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 Lupus in Spanish
- How do you say lupus in Spanish?
- Lupus in Spanish is lupus — the word is the same in both languages. The full medical term is lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES).
- Is lupus masculine or feminine in Spanish?
- Lupus is masculine: el lupus. Latin-derived medical terms ending in -us are typically masculine in Spanish.
- How do you say autoimmune disease in Spanish?
- Autoimmune disease is enfermedad autoinmune. Enfermedad is feminine, so it takes feminine articles and adjectives.