menisco
/meˈnisko/masculine
The English word "meniscus" is translated into Spanish as menisco.
In Spanish, menisco refers to either of the two parts of the human knee.
Meaning: either of two parts of the human knee (noun)
Which one should you use?
You can use El disco meniscal or El cartílago meniscal to be more descriptive. On the other hand, la goma de la rodilla is a colloquial way to describe it.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the informal phrase la goma de la rodilla is used in everyday conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
Menisco is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/meˈnisko/
Did you know?
- The word menisco comes from the Greek word for 'crescent'. This refers to the moon's shape, which mirrors the C-shaped curve of the cartilage in the human knee.
- While an English speaker might say they have a 'torn' meniscus, a Spanish speaker will often use the verb 'romper' to say tengo el menisco roto, as if the cartilage were a solid object that has snapped.
- The term menisco is also used in Spanish physics and chemistry to describe the curve of a liquid's surface in a tube, just as it is in English.
Examples in context
- El paciente sufrió una lesión en el menisco izquierdo.The patient suffered a lesion in the left meniscus.
- Me duele muchísimo el menisco, creo que necesito ver a un médico.My meniscus hurts a lot, I think I need to see a doctor.
- Se rompió el menisco.The meniscus tore.
- El médico me dijo que tengo un menisco roto.The doctor told me that I have a torn meniscus.
- Siento un dolor fuerte en el menisco.I feel a strong pain in my meniscus.
Example conversation
Daniel is telling María about his doctor's visit.
- MaríaDaniel, ¿qué te dijo el médico?Daniel, what did the doctor tell you?
- DanielMe rompió el menisco jugando fútbol.I tore my meniscus playing soccer.
- María¡Qué mala suerte! ¿Necesitas cirugía?What bad luck! Do you need surgery?
- DanielSí, debo operar el menisco pronto.Yes, I must operate on the meniscus soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “meniscus” translations and entries menisco, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
