Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| herida | /eˈɾida/ | feminine |
| lesión | /leˈsjon/ | feminine |
| lastimadura | /lastimaˈduɾa/ | feminine |
| lisiadura | /lisjaduɾa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
In Spanish, the word you choose for "injury" depends on whether you are describing a physical wound, a medical condition or a legal concept. While herida often refers to an open wound, lesión is used for medical or physiological damage, such as in sports. For minor, superficial injuries like scrapes, use lastimadura.
Which one should you use?
Use herida specifically for an open wound, a cut or a physical breach in the skin. Use lesión when referring to medical conditions, sports injuries or physiological damage. Use lastimadura to describe minor, superficial injuries like a scrape or a small bruise. Lisiadura is another form of the word available in the language.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, herida is frequently used to refer to an injury, specifically an open wound and contusión is used to describe a bruise or contusion. In some Latin American countries, magulladura is used to refer to a bruise or contusion. The term lesión is widely used throughout Latin America.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of herida is heridas. All the primary forms provided, including herida, lesión, lastimadura and lisiadura, are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/eˈɾida/
Did you know?
- In a legal context, the word lesión is used to describe a 'damage' or 'injury' to a contract or a financial loss, rather than a physical wound.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a 'bruise' is not just a medical lesión but can be called a moratón, referring to the color purple.
- In Spanish, the word herida is used for both a physical cut and an emotional 'wound' or heartbreak.
Examples in context
- Esta lesión es muy común.This is a very common injury.This sentence uses lesión to describe a common injury.Tatoeba #10065457 by manufrutos, translation #6947991 by Hybrid
- Mi amigo murió de una herida.My friend died from an injury.This sentence uses herida to describe an injury that caused death.Tatoeba #1126401 by marcelostockle, translation #1126698 by CK
- El jugador fingió una lesión.The player faked an injury.This sentence uses lesión to describe a faked injury in sports.Tatoeba #1808166 by marcelostockle, translation #1749509 by Spamster
- El deportista sufrió una lesión en la rodillaThe athlete suffered an injury to the knee.
- El accidente causó un daño considerable en su espaldaThe accident caused significant damage to his back.
- El trabajador demandó compensación por el perjuicio sufrido en el accidenteThe worker sued for compensation for the injury suffered in the accident.
- ¡Me di un chichón en la frente!I bumped my forehead!
- El niño cayó mientras andaba en bicicleta y se hizo una raspadura en la piernaThe child fell while riding the bicycle and got a scrape on their leg.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier is helping Sofía after she fell.
- JavierSofía, ¿tienes alguna herida grave?Sofía, do you have any serious injury?
- SofíaNo, es solo una herida pequeña.No, it is just a small injury.
- JavierDéjame limpiar esa herida ahora.Let me clean that injury now.
- SofíaGracias, Javier, ya me siento mejor.Thank you, Javier, I feel better already.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “injury” translations and entries herida, lesión, lastimadura, 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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
