lipoma
/lipoma/from spelling rules
In Spanish, the word for lipoma is lipoma.
The term refers to a benign tumor made of fat cells located just under the skin.
Which one should you use?
While lipoma is the standard term, you may also encounter tumor de grasa to describe the same condition. In more specialized medical contexts, healthcare professionals may use the more specific term tumor lipomatoso. For common, everyday descriptions, people often use the phrases bolita de grasa or bulto de grasa.
How do you pronounce it?
/lipoma/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, using the term tumor to describe a lipoma might cause unnecessary alarm, as 'tumor' is often colloquially associated only with malignancy. People prefer the softer 'bolita' to indicate it is harmless.
- The suffix in lipoma comes from the Ancient Greek -oma, which refers to a structure or a mass. This same Greek root is the ancestor of many English medical terms ending in '-oma', such as 'carcinoma' or 'melanoma'.
- Spanish speakers use the word bulto to describe a lipoma when they want to emphasize the protrusion or the physical lump rather than the biological nature of the fat.
Examples in context
- El médico me diagnosticó un lipoma.The doctor diagnosed me with a lipoma.
- Ese lipoma es pequeño y no duele.That lipoma is small and doesn't hurt.
- Tengo un lipoma en el brazo.I have a lipoma on my arm.
Example conversation
Javier is showing a lump on his shoulder to María.
- JavierMira este bulto, ¿qué crees que sea?Look at this lump, what do you think it is?
- MaríaParece un lipoma, pero debes ir al médico.It looks like a lipoma, but you should go to the doctor.
- Javier¿Un lipoma es peligroso?Is a lipoma dangerous?
- MaríaNo, Javier, normalmente es benigno.No, Javier, it is normally benign.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lipoma, CC BY-SA 4.0.
