Spanish vocabulary · Intermediate
How to Say Tonsils in Spanish
Amígdalas · noun · ah-MEEG-dah-lahs
Tonsils are called amígdalas in Spanish. This feminine noun is almost always used in the plural, since tonsils come in a pair. The word derives from the Greek amygdalē (almond), referencing the almond-like shape of these glands. In everyday speech in Spain and certain Latin American countries, anginas is used colloquially, though it technically refers to the inflammation (tonsillitis) rather than the organs themselves.
ah-MEEG-dah-lahs
El médico le revisó las amígdalas porque llevaba varios días con dolor de garganta.
The doctor examined her tonsils because she had been having a sore throat for several days.
Tonsils in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for tonsils, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| amígdalas | tonsils | ah-MEEG-dah-lahs | Default, widely understood |
| anginas | tonsils | colloquial in Spain and parts of Latin America, often refers to inflamed tonsils |
How Native Speakers Use Amígdalas
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Doctor visit
Tiene las amígdalas muy inflamadas; le voy a recetar un antibiótico.
Your tonsils are very swollen; I'm going to prescribe an antibiotic.
Amígdalas is the standard medical term a doctor would use in any Spanish-speaking country.
Childhood surgery
A mi hermano le operaron las amígdalas cuando tenía seis años.
My brother had his tonsils removed when he was six years old.
Tonsillectomy is commonly described with the phrase operar las amígdalas.
Colloquial usage
El niño tiene anginas otra vez y no puede ir al colegio.
The kid has tonsillitis again and can't go to school.
In Spain, anginas often replaces amígdalas in casual conversation, especially when describing illness.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Amígdalas
Using the singular when referring to both tonsils
Incorrect: Me duele la amígdala.
Correct: Me duelen las amígdalas.
Since tonsils are a pair, Spanish almost always uses the plural amígdalas, with the verb in plural form: duelen, not duele.
Confusing amígdalas with almendras
Incorrect: El doctor dijo que mis almendras están inflamadas.
Correct: El doctor dijo que mis amígdalas están inflamadas.
Almendras means almonds (the nut). Though amígdalas shares the same Greek root meaning 'almond,' the two words are distinct in modern Spanish.
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See Amígdalas used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Tonsils in Spanish
- How do you say 'tonsillitis' in Spanish?
- Tonsillitis is amigdalitis in Spanish. It follows the standard medical suffix -itis for inflammation. In casual speech in Spain, people often just say tengo anginas (I have tonsillitis).
- Is amígdalas always plural?
- In nearly all practical contexts, yes. Because tonsils are a pair of glands, you will almost always see las amígdalas. The singular amígdala exists and might appear in medical literature when discussing one specific tonsil.
- What does 'le sacaron las amígdalas' mean?
- It means 'they removed his/her tonsils' — an informal way of saying someone had a tonsillectomy. Sacar (to remove, to take out) is commonly used in medical Spanish for surgical removal.