penicilina

penicillin

noun peh-nee-see-LEE-nah Rare

Origin: Named after the Penicillium mould, from Latin penicillus ('paintbrush'), referring to the mould's brush-like spore structures.

Usage Note

Penicilina is the standard Spanish term for penicillin, used identically across all Spanish-speaking countries. It is typically feminine and used without an article in set medical expressions: alergia a la penicilina (penicillin allergy). Learners should note that antibiotic names in Spanish are generally not capitalised unless they are brand names.

Examples

"El médico le recetó penicilina para la infección."

Natural Translation

The doctor prescribed penicillin for the infection.

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