problema de salud
/pɾoblema de salud/from spelling rules
The English phrase "health problem" is translated into Spanish as problema de salud.
problema de salud refers to a medical condition or illness that affects a person's physical or mental well-being. For more specific or formal contexts, you might use enfermedad for an illness or disease, trastorno for a disorder (including mental health or bodily function disruptions) or afección to describe a condition causing discomfort or distress. If you are specifically referring to an upset stomach, you can use the phrase mal de estómago.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of problema (problem), de (of) and salud (health).
How does it change in a sentence?
Although problema ends in -a, it is a masculine noun. Therefore, you must use masculine articles such as el or un (for example, un problema de salud). To express the plural "health problems", only the noun is pluralized to problemas, while salud remains singular: problemas de salud.
How do you pronounce it?
/pɾoblema de salud/
Did you know?
- While salud means 'health', it is also the standard word used when someone sneezes, acting as the Spanish equivalent of 'bless you'.
- The word salud is not just a noun for 'health' but is also the standard way to say 'Cheers!' when performing a toast. In social settings, you might shout ¡Salud! instead of using a word for 'cheers'.
- Spanish speakers often use the phrase mal de to describe specific ailments, such as mal de estómago or mal de amores for heartbreak.
Examples in context
- Mi abuela tiene varios problemas de salud como diabetes y hipertensión.My grandmother has various health problems such as diabetes and hypertension.
- Tiene un problema de salud serio.He/she has a serious health problem.
- Él tiene un problema de salud serio.He has a serious health problem.
- No quiero hablar de mi problema de salud.I do not want to talk about my health problem.
- ¿Es un problema de salud común?Is it a common health problem?
Example conversation
Maria and Javier are discussing why a colleague is absent from work.
- MaríaJavier, ¿sabes por qué no vino Luis?Javier, do you know why Luis didn't come?
- JavierMe dijo que tiene un problema de salud.He told me he has a health problem.
- MaríaQué mal, espero que se recupere pronto.That's too bad, I hope he recovers soon.
- JavierSí, María, yo también lo espero.Yes, María, I hope so too.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
