Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Sleep Apnea in Spanish: How to Say Apnea del Sueño
Apnea del Sueño · noun phrase · ahp-NEH-ah del SWEH-nyoh
Sleep apnea in Spanish is apnea del sueño, a feminine noun phrase referring to the sleep disorder in which a person's breathing is interrupted during rest. The term is universal across Spanish-speaking countries and is used in both clinical and conversational contexts.
Say ahp-NEH-ah del SWEH-nyoh. The stress in apnea falls on the second syllable. Sueño has the ñ (ny) sound and is stressed on the first syllable.
El médico le dijo que tiene apnea del sueño.
The doctor told him he has sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for sleep apnea, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| apnea del sueño | sleep apnea | ahp-NEH-ah del SWEH-nyoh | Default, widely understood |
| apnea obstructiva del sueño | sleep apnea | full clinical name for the most common type |
How Native Speakers Use Apnea del Sueño
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Discussing symptoms with a doctor
Ronco mucho por las noches; creo que podría ser apnea del sueño.
I snore a lot at night; I think it could be sleep apnea.
Patients commonly describe snoring (roncar) as the primary symptom when bringing up apnea del sueño.
Explaining a treatment
Usa una máquina CPAP para controlar su apnea del sueño.
He uses a CPAP machine to manage his sleep apnea.
CPAP keeps the same acronym in Spanish; máquina CPAP is the standard phrasing.
Mentioning a sleep study
Le hicieron un estudio del sueño y confirmaron la apnea.
They did a sleep study and confirmed the apnea.
Estudio del sueño is the Spanish equivalent of sleep study or polysomnography.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Apnea del Sueño
Saying apnea de sueño (dropping the article)
Incorrect: Padece apnea de sueño.
Correct: Padece apnea del sueño.
The correct phrase includes the contracted article del (de + el). Sueño is masculine, so it must be del sueño, not just de sueño.
Pronouncing apnea with a silent p
Incorrect: ah-NEH-ah del SWEH-nyoh
Correct: ahp-NEH-ah del SWEH-nyoh
Unlike in English where the p in apnea is often silent, in Spanish both consonants in the ap- cluster are lightly pronounced.
Lock in Sleep Apnea 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 Apnea del Sueño used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using apnea del sueño in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El médico le dijo que tiene apnea del sueño. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Sleep Apnea in Spanish
- How do you say sleep apnea in Spanish?
- Sleep apnea in Spanish is apnea del sueño. The phrase is used identically across all Spanish-speaking countries in both medical and everyday conversation.
- Is apnea masculine or feminine in Spanish?
- Apnea is feminine: la apnea. So the full phrase is la apnea del sueño. Adjectives must agree: apnea obstructiva del sueño (obstructive sleep apnea).
- How do you say CPAP machine in Spanish?
- CPAP stays as CPAP in Spanish. You'd say máquina CPAP or dispositivo CPAP. Some medical professionals also use the full term presión positiva continua en las vías respiratorias, but the acronym is far more common.