¿puedo ir a la enfermería?
The English phrase "can I go to the nurse" is translated into Spanish as ¿puedo ir a la enfermería?
This phrase is used specifically to request permission to leave a classroom to visit the school's health office.
What does it mean word for word?
The word enfermería literally refers to the place (the infirmary or nurse's office) rather than the person (the nurse).
How does it change in a sentence?
Because enfermería is a feminine noun, you must use the feminine article la before it. The phrase is a question, so it begins with an inverted question mark (¿) and ends with a standard question mark (?).
Did you know?
- The Spanish verb ir is a linguistic puzzle because its different tenses come from three distinct Latin verbs: īre, vādere and esse.
- The word for a nurse, enfermero or enfermera, is built directly from the word enfermo, which means 'sick'.
- In some regions, the command andá, used to tell someone to go, is actually borrowed from the verb andar meaning 'to walk'.
Examples in context
- Maestra, ¿puedo ir a la enfermería?Teacher, can I go to the nurse?
- Me siento mal, ¿puedo ir a la enfermería?I feel bad, can I go to the nurse?
Example conversation
Daniel is in class and feels unwell.
- DanielElena, ¿puedo ir a la enfermería?Elena, can I go to the nurse?
- Elena¿Qué te pasa, Daniel?What is wrong, Daniel?
- DanielMe duele mucho la cabeza.My head hurts a lot.
- ElenaSí, ve ahora mismo.Yes, go right now.
