enfermedad

illness, disease

noun en-fehr-meh-DAHD Less Common

Usage Note

Enfermedad is the general term covering any illness; dolencia is more formal or literary. The related adjective is enfermo/a (sick) and the profession is enfermero/a (nurse). Note enfermedad crónica (chronic illness) vs enfermedad infecciosa (infectious disease) — both common collocations.

Examples

"La enfermedad la tuvo en cama una semana."

Natural Translation

The illness kept her in bed for a week.

Literal Translation

The illness her-had in bed a week

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