encías
/enθias/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'mouth gums' is translated into Spanish as encías.
The term refers to the pink tissue in the mouth that surrounds and supports the teeth.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of Spain, the term encía inferior is used specifically to refer to the lower gums.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form of the word is encía, though the plural encías is much more commonly used when referring to the gums in general.
How do you pronounce it?
/enθias/
Did you know?
- While encías is the standard term, some people may colloquially refer to the gums as la carne (the flesh) when describing sensitivity or irritation in an informal setting.
- While encía refers to the anatomy of the mouth, the word encinar refers to a grove of holm oak trees. Despite the phonetic similarity, they share no linguistic connection.
- In a clinical or professional dental setting, you might hear a dentist use the term tejido gingival rather than the common encías.
Examples in context
- Mi dentista me recomendó cepillarme bien las encías para evitar problemas.My dentist advised me to brush my gums well to avoid problems.
- Me duele una muela cerca de la encía.I have a toothache near the gum.
- Tengo las encías inflamadas.My gums are swollen.
- El dentista revisó mis encías.The dentist checked my gums.
- Debes cuidar la salud de tus encías.You must take care of your gum health.
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are talking about a dental appointment.
- Lucía¿Te duele algo en la boca, Daniel?Does something hurt in your mouth, Daniel?
- DanielSí, me sangran las encías al cepillarme.Yes, my gums bleed when I brush.
- LucíaDeberías ir al dentista pronto.You should go to the dentist soon.
- DanielTienes razón, voy a pedir una cita.You are right, I am going to make an appointment.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
