Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Wound in Spanish: Herida
Herida · noun · eh-REE-dah
Herida is the Spanish word for wound, covering cuts, gashes, punctures, and any open injury to the body. The verb herir means to wound or injure someone. Herida also functions figuratively for emotional wounds, making it as versatile as its English counterpart. In clinical settings, lesión may substitute when the focus is on tissue damage rather than an open wound specifically.
Herida is pronounced eh-REE-dah, with stress on the second syllable and a silent h at the start. The r is a single tap, not a trill.
La herida en su brazo necesitó cinco puntos de sutura.
The wound on his arm needed five stitches.
Wound in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for wound, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| herida | wound | eh-REE-dah | Default, widely understood |
| herir | wound | verb form: to wound or injure | |
| lesión | wound | used in medical and sports contexts for injury |
How Native Speakers Use Herida
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Physical injury
Hay que limpiar la herida con agua y jabón antes de vendarla.
You need to clean the wound with soap and water before bandaging it.
Herida is the everyday medical term for an open wound requiring first aid or treatment.
Emotional wound
Las heridas emocionales a veces tardan más en sanar que las físicas.
Emotional wounds sometimes take longer to heal than physical ones.
Heridas emocionales extends the word metaphorically to psychological pain and trauma.
Verb form
El soldado fue herido durante la emboscada pero sobrevivió.
The soldier was wounded during the ambush but survived.
Herido/herida as a past participle means wounded and functions as both verb form and adjective.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Herida
Confusing herida with lastimadura
Incorrect: Tiene una lastimadura profunda que necesita cirugía.
Correct: Tiene una herida profunda que necesita cirugía.
Lastimadura refers to a minor bruise, scrape, or hurt. A deep wound requiring medical intervention is a herida, which conveys greater severity.
Using the verb without indirect object marking
Incorrect: La bala hirió el soldado.
Correct: La bala hirió al soldado.
When herir takes a human direct object in Spanish, the personal a (al) is mandatory. Omitting it is a grammatical error that marks the speaker as non-native.
Lock in Wound 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 Herida used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using herida in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear La herida en su brazo necesitó cinco puntos de sutura. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Wound in Spanish
- How do you say wound in Spanish?
- Wound in Spanish is herida as a noun and herir as the verb to wound. The word covers both physical injuries like cuts and gashes, and figurative emotional wounds or trauma.
- What is the difference between herida and lesión?
- Herida specifically refers to an open wound or cut in the skin or tissue. Lesión is broader, covering any injury including sprains, fractures, and internal damage. In sports medicine, lesión is the standard term, while herida appears in emergency and surgical contexts.
- How do you say the wound is healing in Spanish?
- The wound is healing translates to la herida está sanando or la herida está cicatrizando. Sanar emphasizes the overall healing process, while cicatrizar focuses specifically on scar formation and wound closure.