Medusa
/meˈdusa/feminine
The English name Medusa is translated into Spanish as Medusa.
Medusa refers to the mythological figure, one of the Gorgons. It is a feminine noun.
Meaning: one of the Gorgons (name)
Which one should you use?
When used as a common noun in lowercase, medusa refers to a jellyfish (a cnidarian).
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to the mythological figure as a person or entity, it is common to use the feminine definite article la before the name, as in la Medusa.
How do you pronounce it?
/meˈdusa/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word medusa refers both to the mythological Gorgon and to a jellyfish. This reflects the visual similarity between the creature's tentacles and the snake-like hair of the monster.
- The Spanish word medusa comes from the Ancient Greek word Médousa, which is derived from a verb meaning 'rule over'.
- In Spanish, the term medusa is used for any jellyfish, whereas in English, 'medusa' is a specialized biological term for the free-swimming, bell-shaped stage of a jellyfish's life cycle.
Examples in context
- Perseo mató a Medusa y rescató a Andrómeda.Perseus killed Medusa and rescued Andromeda.Tatoeba #10244325 by Seael, translation #12898677 by araneo
- Una vez, Cristóbal Colón miró fijamente a Medusa, y Medusa se convirtió en piedra.Christopher Columbus once stared at Medusa, and Medusa turned to stone.Tatoeba #554743 by Shishir, translation #553514 by FeuDRenais2
- ¡Medusa me petrificó!Medusa petrified me!Tatoeba #13203062 by Tom9358, translation #13203061 by Tom9358
Example conversation
Two students are discussing Greek mythology in class.
- SofíaMe gusta mucho la historia de Medusa.I really like the story of Medusa.
- AlejandroSí, Medusa es un personaje muy fascinante.Yes, Medusa is a very fascinating character.
- Sofía¿Sabes por qué Medusa tiene serpientes en la cabeza?Do you know why Medusa has snakes on her head?
- AlejandroCreo que fue un castigo de los dioses.I think it was a punishment from the gods.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “medusa” translations and entries Medusa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Medusa, medusa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
