dentista
/denˈtista/feminine, masculine
The Spanish word for dentist is dentista. Wiktionary also lists odontólogo.
Meaning: specialized tooth doctor (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dentista | /denˈtista/ | feminine, masculine |
| odontólogo | /odonˈtoloɡo/ | masculine |
The term is used to refer to a specialized tooth doctor.
Which one should you use?
While dentista is the common everyday term, odontólogo is a more formal and technical term for a dental professional.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, the term odontólogo might be more commonly used than dentista.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word dentista is used for both men and women, but its gender is determined by the article used, such as el dentista for a male dentist or la dentista for a female dentist. Additionally, when saying 'to the dentist', you must contract the preposition a and the article el into al dentista.
How do you pronounce it?
/denˈtista/
Did you know?
- The term odontólogo is built from -logo, a suffix denoting a specialist, which comes from the Greek lógos, meaning 'word' or 'reason'.
- The suffix '-ista' in dentista is a common way to turn a noun into a profession, and it is shared with English words like 'artist' or 'pianist'.
- While dentista refers specifically to the practitioner, the science of dentistry is called odontología, using the same Greek root as odontólogo.
Examples in context
- Tom es mi dentista.Tom is my dentist.This sentence is useful for identifying someone as your dentist using dentista.Tatoeba #10558463 by Shishir, translation #2273300 by CK
- Necesito ir al dentista.I need to go to the dentist.This sentence is useful for expressing a need to visit the dentist using dentista.Tatoeba #5052559 by don_ramon, translation #8580000 by CK
- No quiero ir al dentista.I don't want to go to the dentist.This sentence is useful for expressing a lack of desire to visit the dentist using dentista.Tatoeba #4627186 by Shishir, translation #3839272 by Hybrid
- Mi dentista hizo un excelente trabajo en mi última citaMy dentist did an excellent job at my last appointment
- El odontólogo me hizo recomendaciones para mejorar mi salud bucalThe dentist gave me recommendations to improve my oral health
- Mi médico dentista me recomendó realizarme una limpieza dentalMy dentist recommended that I get a dental cleaning
- Necesito hacer una cita con el dentistaI need to make an appointment with the dentist
- ¿Conoces a un buen dentista cerca de aquí?Do you know a good dentist around here?
- Mi dentista me recomendó usar hilo dental todos los díasMy dentist recommended that I use dental floss every day
- ¿Cuánto tiempo debo esperar en la sala de espera del dentista?How long should I wait in the dentist's waiting room?
- El dentista me sugirió que use un enjuague bucal después de cepillarme los dientesThe dentist suggested that I use a mouthwash after brushing my teeth
- 53 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are talking about a medical appointment.
- Daniel¿Tienes cita con la dentista?Do you have an appointment with the dentist?
- SofíaSí, Daniel, tengo cita esta tarde.Yes, Daniel, I have an appointment this afternoon.
- DanielEspero que la dentista sea buena.I hope the dentist is good.
- SofíaElla es una dentista muy profesional.She is a very professional dentist.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dentist” translations and entries dentista, odontólogo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dentista, odontólogo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
