daño cerebral
/daɲo θeɾebɾal/from spelling rulesmasculine
In Spanish, brain damage is daño cerebral. Wiktionary also lists lesión cerebral.
Meaning: injury to the brain (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| daño cerebral | /daɲo θeɾebɾal/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /daɲo seɾebɾal/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| lesión cerebral | /lesjon θeɾebɾal/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /lesjon seɾebɾal/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
This term is used to describe injury to the brain. While daño cerebral is a general term for damage or harm, the phrase lesión cerebral is often used in medical contexts to specify a physical injury or lesion.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase daño cerebral is a literal translation of 'brain damage'. daño means damage and cerebral means brain-related.
Which one should you use?
Daño cerebral is a general term for damage or harm. In contrast, lesión cerebral is a more precise medical term specifically referring to a physical injury or lesion.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express multiple instances of brain damage, both the noun and the adjective must be pluralized, resulting in daños cerebrales.
How do you pronounce it?
/daɲo θeɾebɾal/
Did you know?
- The word daño comes from the Latin 'damnum', which originally referred to a financial 'expense' or 'investment' rather than physical harm.
- While daño is used for 'damage' in a general sense, the Spanish language distinguishes it from perjuicio, which refers specifically to legal or moral harm.
- Even though daño can mean 'damage', in many Spanish-speaking contexts, if you refer to a 'daño' in a person, it might imply a moral or social 'harm' rather than just a physical injury.
Examples in context
- Ella padece una lesión cerebral desde su infancia, pero ha aprendido a superar los obstáculos que esto le presenta.She has had brain damage since childhood, but she has learned to overcome the obstacles it presents.
- El accidente le causó una lesión cerebral grave.The accident caused him a severe brain injury.
- El accidente le causó un daño cerebral.The accident caused him brain damage.
- El paciente sufre de un daño cerebral grave.The patient suffers from severe brain damage.
- No sabemos la extensión del daño cerebral.We do not know the extent of the brain damage.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are discussing a medical report.
- ElenaJavier, el médico confirmó el daño cerebral.Javier, the doctor confirmed the brain damage.
- JavierLo siento mucho, Elena. ¿Qué sigue ahora?I am so sorry, Elena. What happens now?
- ElenaNecesitamos empezar la terapia lo antes posible.We need to start therapy as soon as possible.
- JavierHaré todo lo posible para ayudar.I will do everything possible to help.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brain damage” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cerebral, daño, lesión, CC BY-SA 4.0.
