sarna
/ˈsaɾna/
In Spanish, mange is sarna. Wiktionary also lists roña.
Meaning: skin disease (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sarna | /ˈsaɾna/ | |
| roña | /ˈroɲa/ | feminine |
The term refers to a skin disease. You can say an animal or person has mange by using the phrase tener sarna.
Which one should you use?
sarna is the medical term for mange, whereas roña is a colloquial term. While roña can be used to mean mange, it often refers more generally to filth, grime or a scab.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun sarna is feminine and is typically used with the definite article la (e.g., la sarna). The word roña is also feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsaɾna/
Did you know?
- The word roña stems from the Latin word for 'bronze', specifically referring to the superficial coatings or rust that forms on metal. This connects the concept of a skin disease to the oxidation of minerals.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, roña is used as a slang term for someone who is extremely stingy with money.
- While sarna is a medical term, roña is often used in Spanish idioms to describe someone who is stubborn, mean or grumpy.
Examples in context
- La sarna es una enfermedad cutánea causada por ácaros.Mange is a skin disease caused by mites.
- La escabiosis es una irritación de la piel causada por el ácaro Sarcoptes scabiei.Mange is a skin irritation caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite.
- Creo que mi perro tiene sarna.I think my dog has mange.
- Hay que tratar a los perros con inyecciones para eliminar la sarna sarcóptica.We need to treat the dogs with injections to eliminate sarcoptic mange.
- El perro tiene sarna.The dog has mange.
- Ese animal sufre de sarna.That animal suffers from mange.
- La sarna es contagiosa para los animales.Mange is contagious for animals.
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are looking at a stray dog in the street.
- MateoMira ese perro, parece que tiene sarna.Look at that dog, it looks like it has mange.
- LucíaPobre animal, se ve muy mal.Poor animal, it looks very bad.
- MateoDebemos llamar a un veterinario.We should call a veterinarian.
- LucíaTienes razón, Mateo.You are right, Mateo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mange” translations and entries sarna, roña, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries roña, sarna, CC BY-SA 4.0.
