gotas para los oídos
/ɡotas paɾa los oidos/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'ear drops' is translated into Spanish as gotas para los oídos.
The term refers to a liquid medication administered by placing drops into the ear canal.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase gotas para los oídos is composed of gotas (drops), para (for) and los oídos (the ears).
Which one should you use?
While gotas para los oídos is a standard way to express this, you may encounter the technical term gotas óticas (otic drops) in pharmaceutical or medical contexts. In more casual settings, the diminutive gotitas para los oídos is also used.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you may use the phrase Gotas para el Oído. In Spain, Gotas óticas is a common way to say 'ear drops'.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are referring to drops intended for only one ear, you can use the singular form gotas para el oído.
Did you know?
- Spanish uses the word oído for the ear when referring to the sense of hearing or the ear canal, but oreja for the visible outer ear.
- The word para evolved from the Old Spanish word pora, which was a blend of the Latin words prō and ad.
- Using the diminutive gotitas is a common cultural way to make the sensation of the medication seem less scary or painful, particularly for children.
Examples in context
- Necesito comprar gotas para los oídos.I need to buy ear drops.
- Las gotas para los oídos me alivian el dolor.The ear drops relieve my pain.
- ¿Dónde están las gotas para los oídos?Where are the ear drops?
Example conversation
Daniel and María are at a pharmacy.
- DanielHola, busco unas gotas para los oídos.Hello, I am looking for some ear drops.
- MaríaClaro, Daniel. ¿Tiene una receta médica?Of course, Daniel. Do you have a medical prescription?
- DanielNo, solo quiero unas gotas para los oídos básicas.No, I just want some basic ear drops.
- MaríaEstá bien, María le mostrará cuáles puede llevar.That's fine, María will show you which ones you can take.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries los, para, CC BY-SA 4.0.
