What does it mean word for word?
The term is a direct cognate of the English medical term: accidente means accident, cerebro- refers to the brain and vascular refers to the blood vessels.
Which one should you use?
Other formal phrases include infarto cerebral (cerebral infarction), episodio cerebrovascular (cerebrovascular episode) and apoplejía (stroke). In medical contexts in Spain, the shorthand ictus is frequently used to mean stroke.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Accidente cerebrovascular is a formal translation. In casual conversation, people often use the informal term derrame cerebral instead of the technical accidente cerebrovascular.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many medical contexts in Spain, the term ictus is frequently used as a shorthand for a cerebrovascular accident.
How do you pronounce it?
/aɡθidente θeɾebɾobaskulaɾ/
Did you know?
- While accidente cerebrovascular is the medical term, the common phrase derrame cerebral literally means 'brain spill'.
- The term ictus used in Spain is a direct loan from Latin meaning 'a blow' or 'a hit'.
- The word apoplejía comes from the Greek word for 'struck down', referring to the sudden collapse of the patient.
Examples in context
- El paciente ha sufrido un accidente cerebrovascularThe patient has suffered a cerebrovascular accident
- Mi abuelo sufrió un infarto cerebralMy grandfather had a cerebral infarction
- La apoplejía causó una parálisis parcialThe stroke caused partial paralysis
- Mi tía sufrió un derrame cerebralMy aunt had a cerebrovascular accident
- El paciente sufrió un accidente cerebrovascular.The patient suffered a cerebrovascular accident.
- Es un accidente cerebrovascular muy grave.It is a very serious cerebrovascular accident.
- Deben actuar rápido ante un accidente cerebrovascular.They must act fast in the event of a cerebrovascular accident.
Example conversation
In a hospital corridor, a doctor explains a situation to a relative.
- AlejandroLucía, el abuelo tuvo un accidente cerebrovascular.Lucía, grandfather had a cerebrovascular accident.
- Lucía¿Es muy grave su estado, Alejandro?Is his condition very serious, Alejandro?
- AlejandroEstamos esperando los resultados de los médicos.We are waiting for the doctors' results.
- LucíaEspero que pueda recuperarse pronto.I hope he can recover soon.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
