alzhéimer
/alˈθeimeɾ/
Alzheimer's in Spanish is alzhéimer.
This term refers to a progressive brain disorder characterized by memory loss and cognitive decline.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is masculine and is typically used with the definite article el, as in el alzhéimer.
How do you pronounce it?
/alˈθeimeɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly add an 's' to the end of the word. However, in Spanish, the name is used without the possessive 's'.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, families may use softer euphemisms like la pérdida de memoria or está confundido to avoid the clinical weight of the word alzhéimer during social interactions.
- The Royal Spanish Academy prefers the spelling alzhéimer over the original German spelling Alzheimer, treating it as a fully adapted Spanish word rather than a foreign name.
- Spanish speakers often refer to the symptoms as el olvido, which literally means 'the forgetting', treating the act of forgetting as a noun describing the state of the disease.
Examples in context
- La demencia de Alzheimer se caracteriza por la pérdida progresiva de la memoria.Alzheimer's dementia is characterized by progressive memory loss.
- Su abuelo tiene alzhéimer.His grandfather has Alzheimer's.
- El alzhéimer afecta la memoria.Alzheimer's affects memory.
- Ella fue diagnosticada con alzhéimer.She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are talking about a family member's health.
- Mateo¿Sabes qué tiene tu tía?Do you know what your aunt has?
- ElenaSí, le diagnosticaron alzhéimer.Yes, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
- MateoLo siento mucho, Elena.I am very sorry, Elena.
- ElenaGracias, Mateo. Es difícil.Thank you, Mateo. It is difficult.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry alzhéimer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
