covid-19
feminine, masculine
In Spanish, the English phrase covid-19 is translated as covid-19.
The term covid-19 is the most commonly used name for the disease worldwide and is recognized across all Spanish-speaking countries. While covid-19 refers to the disease itself, the term SARS-CoV-2 is used to refer specifically to the virus that causes it. You may also encounter the formal phrase Enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (coronavirus disease 2019) or more general terms like Coronavirus and Corona in everyday conversation.
Meaning: disease (name)
Which one should you use?
In everyday speech, people often use shorter terms like Coronavirus or Corona to refer to the disease. For a more informal or slang-driven approach, some speakers use El bicho, which literally means 'the bug'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The term covid-19 can be used with both masculine and feminine articles. It is most commonly used with the masculine article, el covid-19. However, it can also be used with the feminine article, la covid-19, because it is often treated as a feminine noun referring to la enfermedad (the disease).
Did you know?
- The term corona creates a linguistic overlap in Spanish because it is the same word used for 'crown' and a popular brand of beer.
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, calling the virus el bicho ('the bug') became a widespread cultural euphemism to make the disease sound less clinical and frightening.
- While el covid-19 is common, the Royal Spanish Academy suggests la covid-19 because it is a shorthand for la enfermedad ('the disease').
Examples in context
- La pandemia de COVID-19 está afectando gravemente a la economía mundial.The COVID-19 pandemic is greatly affecting the global economy.
- La rápida propagación del SARS-CoV-2 ha generado preocupación a nivel mundial.The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 has generated global concern.
- El bicho está afectando a más personas de lo que pensábamos.The bug is affecting more people than we thought.
- El desarrollo de una vacuna contra el coronavirus es fundamental para superar esta crisis sanitaria.The development of a vaccine against the coronavirus is crucial to overcoming this health crisis.
- ¿Ya te vacunaste contra el covicho? ¡No deberías perder más tiempo!Have you already been vaccinated against the covicho? You shouldn't waste any more time!
- El covid-19 cambió el mundo.Covid-19 changed the world.
- Leí sobre el covid-19 en las noticias.I read about covid-19 in the news.
- Estamos estudiando la propagación del covid-19.We are studying the spread of covid-19.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about health precautions.
- AlejandroMaría, ¿crees que el covid-19 volverá?María, do you think covid-19 will return?
- MaríaEs posible, pero ya tenemos vacunas.It's possible, but we already have vaccines.
- AlejandroEs verdad, el covid-19 ya no es tan peligroso.That's true, covid-19 is not as dangerous anymore.
- MaríaSí, Alejandro, solo debemos cuidarnos.Yes, Alejandro, we just need to take care of ourselves.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “covid-19” translations and entries covid-19, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
