lepra
/ˈlepɾa/feminine
The English word leprosy is translated into Spanish as lepra.
lepra refers to the infectious disease caused by M. leprae.
Meaning: infectious disease caused by M. leprae (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain Latin American regions, the phrase El mal de San Lázaro may be used to refer to leprosy.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word lepra is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈlepɾa/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, the word lepra is used metaphorically to describe something so repulsive or contagious that everyone avoids it.
- The Spanish word lepra is derived from the Ancient Greek word lepís, which means 'scale'.
- While lepra is the clinical term, the use of El mal de San Lázaro reflects a historical tendency in Spanish to name diseases after saints to seek divine intercession.
Examples in context
- La lepra es una enfermedad antigua.Leprosy is an ancient disease.
- Antiguamente, la lepra causaba mucho miedo.In the past, leprosy caused much fear.
- El doctor explicó los síntomas de la lepra.The doctor explained the symptoms of leprosy.
Example conversation
Two students are discussing a medical history lecture.
- Alejandro¿Hablaron sobre la lepra en la clase?Did they talk about leprosy in class?
- MaríaSí, el profesor fue muy detallado.Yes, the professor was very detailed.
- AlejandroEs un tema bastante impactante.It is a quite impactful topic.
- MaríaTienes razón, Alejandro.You are right, Alejandro.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “leprosy” translations and entries lepra, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lepra, CC BY-SA 4.0.
