manicomio
/maniˈkomjo/
The English phrase 'nut house' can be translated into Spanish as manicomio.
The term refers to a psychiatric hospital. It is used to describe such a facility in an informal or slightly dated way, similar to the English words 'madhouse' or 'nut house'.
Which one should you use?
While manicomio is used colloquially or disparagingly, the standard, neutral and professional term for a psychiatric hospital is hospital psiquiátrico.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
manicomio is an informal or slightly dated term. For a more respectful or professional context, use hospital psiquiátrico. Other informal options include casa de locos, which literally means 'house of crazies' and the colloquial loquero.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, such as Mexico, loquero is a colloquial replacement for manicomio.
How do you pronounce it?
/maniˈkomjo/
Did you know?
- The word manicomio was created by taking the Greek root for 'disease' in nosocomio and replacing it with the Greek word maníā for 'madness'.
- In Spanish, calling a chaotic workplace or a noisy party a manicomio is a common way to describe a place where people are acting irrationally.
- The word nosocomio is a high-register relative of manicomio that uses the same Greek root for 'hospital', but it is so formal that it is almost exclusively found in legal or official medical texts.
Examples in context
- Aquella casa de locos no tenía ninguna medida de seguridad.That nut house had no security measures.
- Ese lugar parece un manicomio.That place looks like a nut house.
- No quiero terminar en el manicomio.I don't want to end up in the nut house.
- La fiesta de ayer era un manicomio.Yesterday's party was a nut house.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are walking through a very noisy and chaotic street market.
- MateoEste mercado es un manicomio.This market is a nut house.
- SofíaTienes razón, Mateo, hay demasiado ruido.You're right, Mateo, it's too noisy.
- MateoMe voy antes de que me vuelvan loco.I'm leaving before I go crazy.
- SofíaEspérame, yo también me voy.Wait for me, I'm leaving too.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry manicomio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries manicomio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
