Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Nurse in Spanish: Enfermero, Enfermera, and Enfermería Explained
Enfermero / Enfermera · noun (masculine / feminine) · ehn-fehr-MEH-roh / ehn-fehr-MEH-rah
Nurse in Spanish is enfermero for a male nurse and enfermera for a female nurse. The word changes gender to match the person it describes. Enfermería refers to the nursing profession as a field of study or to a nurse's office in a school or workplace.
Pronounce enfermero as ehn-fehr-MEH-roh and enfermera as ehn-fehr-MEH-rah. Stress falls on the third syllable in both forms. The r is a single tap, not a trill.
La enfermera me tomó la presión arterial.
The nurse took my blood pressure.
Nurse in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for nurse, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| enfermero / enfermera | nurse | ehn-fehr-MEH-roh / ehn-fehr-MEH-rah | Default, widely understood |
| enfermería | nurse | nursing as a profession or the nurse's office/station | |
| personal de enfermería | nurse | nursing staff (formal/institutional) |
How Native Speakers Use Enfermero / Enfermera
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Female nurse in a hospital
La enfermera revisó mi expediente antes de ponerme la inyección.
The nurse reviewed my file before giving me the injection.
Standard hospital interaction using the feminine form.
Male nurse at a clinic
El enfermero me explicó cómo tomar el medicamento.
The nurse explained to me how to take the medication.
Uses the masculine form enfermero for a male nurse.
Nursing as a profession
Mi hermana estudia enfermería en la universidad.
My sister studies nursing at the university.
Enfermería refers to the field, not an individual nurse.
Nurse's office
Si te sientes mal, ve a enfermería.
If you feel sick, go to the nurse's office.
In schools and workplaces, enfermería is the nurse's station.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Enfermero / Enfermera
Using the wrong gender form
Incorrect: El enfermera me ayudó.
Correct: La enfermera me ayudó. / El enfermero me ayudó.
The article must agree with the noun ending: la enfermera (female), el enfermero (male). Mixing el with enfermera is a grammatical error.
Confusing enfermería with enfermera
Incorrect: Quiero estudiar enfermera en la universidad.
Correct: Quiero estudiar enfermería en la universidad.
Enfermera is a person; enfermería is the field of study. You study enfermería, not enfermera.
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Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Enfermero / Enfermera used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using enfermero / enfermera in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear La enfermera me tomó la presión arterial. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Nurse in Spanish
- How do you say nurse in Spanish?
- Nurse in Spanish is enfermero (male) or enfermera (female). For example: La enfermera me puso una venda means The nurse put a bandage on me.
- What is the difference between enfermero and enfermera?
- Enfermero refers to a male nurse and enfermera refers to a female nurse. The gender of the noun matches the person. This is standard Spanish grammatical gender for professions.
- How do you say nursing in Spanish?
- Nursing (the profession) is enfermería. Mi prima trabaja en enfermería means My cousin works in nursing. The same word is also used for a nurse's office or station.