cianosis
/θjaˈnosis/feminine
Cyanosis in Spanish is cianosis.
The term refers to the discoloration of the skin. In medical contexts, you might use the phrase presenta cianosis to describe a person showing symptoms of the condition. In everyday conversation, you can explain the phenomenon by saying la piel se vuelve azul.
Meaning: discolouration of the skin (noun)
Which one should you use?
While cianosis is the direct translation, more descriptive formal options include discromía cianótica (cyanotic discoloration) or tinte azulado de la piel (bluish tint of the skin). Informally, people often describe the appearance directly as color morado en la piel (purple color on the skin) or piel azulada o amoratada (bluish or purplish skin).
How does it change in a sentence?
cianosis is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/θjaˈnosis/
Did you know?
- The term cianosis shares its root with the Spanish word cianotipo, which refers to a blueprint.
- In some Latin American regions, describing someone as está morado can mean they are experiencing cianosis or are simply extremely cold.
- When describing the skin's appearance informally, 'morado' (purple) is often preferred over 'azul' (blue), as the human eye often perceives the lack of oxygenated blood as a reddish-purple rather than a bright blue.
Examples in context
- La cianosis periférica puede ser un signo de enfermedad cardiovascular.Peripheral cyanosis can be a sign of cardiovascular disease.
- El paciente presenta discromía cianótica en los labios y las uñas.The patient presents cyanotic discoloration in the lips and nails.
- La presencia de tinte azulado en la piel puede indicar problemas respiratorios.The presence of a bluish tint on the skin can indicate respiratory problems.
- La cianosis es un signo de falta de oxígeno.Cyanosis is a sign of lack of oxygen.
- El médico observó una ligera cianosis en sus labios.The doctor observed a slight cyanosis in his lips.
- Debemos vigilar si aparece cianosis en las manos.We must monitor if cyanosis appears on the hands.
Example conversation
A nurse is reporting a patient's condition to a doctor in a hospital.
- JavierDoctor, el paciente presenta cianosis en las uñas.Doctor, the patient shows cyanosis in the nails.
- Lucía¿Ha notado alguna cianosis en su rostro también?Have you noticed any cyanosis on his face too?
- JavierNo, Lucía, solo en las extremidades.No, Lucía, only on the extremities.
- LucíaEntendido, voy a revisarlo de inmediato.Understood, I will check him immediately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cyanosis” translations and entries cianosis, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
