Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Pink Eye in Spanish
Conjuntivitis · noun · kohn-hoon-tee-BEE-tees
Pink eye translates to 'conjuntivitis' in Spanish, which is both the medical and common term. Unlike English where 'pink eye' is the colloquial name, Spanish speakers use the medical term in everyday conversation. Some may descriptively say 'ojo rojo' (red eye) or 'ojo irritado' (irritated eye), but 'conjuntivitis' is universally understood.
Pronounced kohn-hoon-tee-BEE-tees with stress on the penultimate syllable. The word has five syllables and the 'v' is pronounced as a soft 'b' in Spanish.
El niño no puede ir a la escuela porque tiene conjuntivitis.
The child can't go to school because he has pink eye.
Pink Eye in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for pink eye, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| conjuntivitis | pink eye | kohn-hoon-tee-BEE-tees | Default, widely understood |
| ojo rojo | pink eye | informal/descriptive | |
| mal de ojo | pink eye | folk name (not medical) |
How Native Speakers Use Conjuntivitis
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Doctor visit
El doctor me recetó gotas antibióticas para la conjuntivitis.
The doctor prescribed antibiotic drops for the pink eye.
Medical scenario showing treatment vocabulary alongside the condition.
School notification
Hay un brote de conjuntivitis en la escuela, tengan precaución.
There's a pink eye outbreak at the school, please take precautions.
Common school communication about contagious conditions using 'brote' (outbreak).
Symptoms
Se me puso el ojo rojo y con lagañas — creo que es conjuntivitis.
My eye got red and goopy — I think it's pink eye.
Informal self-diagnosis using descriptive language and the colloquial 'lagañas' (eye discharge).
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Conjuntivitis
Translating literally as 'ojo rosa'
Incorrect: Tengo ojo rosa.
Correct: Tengo conjuntivitis.
There's no literal 'ojo rosa' (pink eye) expression in Spanish. The condition is always called 'conjuntivitis' — translating 'pink eye' word-for-word would confuse native speakers.
Wrong article
Incorrect: El conjuntivitis es contagioso.
Correct: La conjuntivitis es contagiosa.
Conjuntivitis is feminine (la conjuntivitis), following the pattern of most medical conditions ending in '-itis' in Spanish.
Lock in Pink Eye 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 Conjuntivitis used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using conjuntivitis in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El niño no puede ir a la escuela porque tiene conjuntivitis. 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 Pink Eye in Spanish
- Do Spanish speakers use a casual term for pink eye like English does?
- Unlike English where 'pink eye' is the casual alternative to 'conjunctivitis,' Spanish speakers use 'conjuntivitis' in all registers from doctor's offices to playground conversations — there is no widely established slang equivalent.
- Is 'mal de ojo' the same as pink eye?
- The phrase 'mal de ojo' refers to the 'evil eye' superstition (a curse believed to be cast through envious looks) and is completely unrelated to conjunctivitis — despite both involving the eye, they are entirely different concepts in Spanish culture.
- How do I describe pink eye symptoms in Spanish?
- Common symptom descriptions include 'ojo rojo e hinchado' (red and swollen eye), 'ojos con lagañas' (eyes with discharge), 'picazón en los ojos' (itchy eyes), and 'ojos llorosos' (watery eyes) — these phrases help communicate symptoms before receiving a diagnosis.