caries
/ˈkaɾjes/
The English phrase 'cavities' is translated into Spanish as caries.
The term for cavities is caries.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word caries is used for both the singular 'cavity' and the plural 'cavities'. Because caries is a feminine noun, you must use the feminine article una when referring to a single cavity.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkaɾjes/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly treat caries as a masculine noun. Instead, remember that it is a feminine noun in Spanish.
Did you know?
- While caries is the standard term for dental cavities, Spanish speakers often use the verb picarse (to be stung or bitten) to describe a tooth getting a cavity.
- The word caries is a direct loan from Latin, where it originally referred to any kind of decay or rotting in the bones and tissues, not just the teeth.
- Unlike English, where 'caries' is a technical medical term used by dentists, caries is the everyday word used by children and adults alike in Spanish.
Examples in context
- No tengo ninguna caries.I don't have any cavities.Tatoeba #610597 by Dejo, translation #277679 by CK
- ¿Tengo caries?Do I have cavities?Tatoeba #434503 by lukaszpp, translation #434502 by lukaszpp
- Tengo varias caries en los dientes.I have several cavities in my teeth.
- El dentista me dijo que tengo varias caries.The dentist told me that I have several cavities.
Example conversation
At a dental clinic.
- AlejandroHola, María. ¿Tienes alguna caries?Hello, María. Do you have any cavities?
- MaríaCreo que sí, me duele un diente.I think so, a tooth hurts.
- AlejandroVamos a revisar si son caries.Let's check if they are cavities.
- MaríaEspero que no sean muchas.I hope there aren't many.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry caries, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caries, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
