enfermería
/enfeɾmeˈɾia/
The English phrase 'nurse's office' is translated into Spanish as enfermería.
enfermería refers to the physical room or the medical department in a school or workplace where basic medical care is provided.
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between the location and the person. While enfermería refers to the physical room or department, the words enfermero or enfermera are used to refer to the person (the nurse) themselves. Additionally, La Enfermería Escolar is used specifically to mean 'school nurse's office'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is feminine, so it is used with the feminine article la when referring to a specific office, as in la enfermería.
How do you pronounce it?
/enfeɾmeˈɾia/
Did you know?
- The root of enfermería is enfermo, which means 'sick'. This means the 'nurse's office' is literally named after the 'sick person' rather than the profession of nursing.
- In some Latin American contexts, if a student says they are going to the enfermería, it is a common euphemism for wanting to avoid a class or a test.
- The word enfermería shares the same suffix as farmacia (pharmacy) and cirugía (surgery), creating a cluster of medical locations ending in -ía.
Examples in context
- La enfermera me dijo que tenía que ir al consultorio de enfermería para hacerme un análisis de sangre.The nurse told me I had to go to the nurse's office to get a blood test.
- Me lastimé la pierna y me mandaron a la enfermería del colegio para que me pongan una curita.I hurt my leg and they sent me to the nurse's office at school to put a band-aid on me.
- Si te sientes mal durante las clases, ve a la enfermería escolar y descansa un poco.If you feel unwell during classes, go to the school nurse's office and rest for a while.
- Tengo que ir a la enfermería.I have to go to the nurse's office.
- La enfermería está en este pasillo.The nurse's office is in this hallway.
- Necesito ir a la enfermería ahora mismo.I need to go to the nurse's office right now.
- ¿Dónde está la enfermería de la escuela?Where is the school's nurse's office?
Example conversation
Alejandro is feeling unwell at school and asks Elena for help.
- Alejandro¿Sabes dónde está la enfermería?Do you know where the nurse's office is?
- ElenaSí, está al final del pasillo.Yes, it is at the end of the hallway.
- AlejandroGracias, me siento muy mal.Thanks, I feel very sick.
- ElenaVe rápido, Alejandro.Go quickly, Alejandro.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry enfermería, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
