herpes
/ˈeɾpes/feminine, masculine
The English word 'herpes' is translated into Spanish as herpes. If unsure, use herpes. Wiktionary also lists herpe.
Meaning: viral disease (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| herpes | /ˈeɾpes/ | feminine, masculine |
| herpe | /eɾpe/ (from spelling rules) | feminine, masculine |
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, calentura is an informal term for oral or facial herpes.
How does it change in a sentence?
In standard medical and common usage, the word is masculine, so you use the masculine article el (e.g., el herpes). Both herpes and herpe are listed as having masculine and feminine tags.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈeɾpes/
Did you know?
- While herpes is the standard term, many people in Latin America use the word fuego meaning 'fire' to describe a cold sore.
- Despite being a Greek loanword shared by many languages, the Spanish pronunciation herpes treats the initial 'h' as completely silent, unlike in English.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, the term calentura is used to describe a fever or a heat-related illness, creating a linguistic overlap with its use for facial herpes.
Examples in context
- El médico diagnosticó un caso de herpes en el paciente.The doctor diagnosed a case of herpes in the patient.
- El herpes puede ser muy molesto.Herpes can be very annoying.
- El médico explicó qué es el herpes.The doctor explained what herpes is.
Example conversation
Daniel is talking to Lucía about a doctor's appointment.
- DanielLucía, fui al médico por este herpes.Lucía, I went to the doctor for this herpes.
- LucíaQué mal, Daniel. ¿Te dio algún medicamento?That's too bad, Daniel. Did he give you any medication?
- DanielSí, me dio una pomada para el herpes.Yes, he gave me an ointment for the herpes.
- LucíaEspero que se cure pronto.I hope it heals soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “herpes” translations and entries herpes, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
