analgésico
/analˈxesiko/
The English phrase "pain medicine" is analgésico in Spanish.
The term refers to a drug used to relieve or reduce physical pain.
Which one should you use?
While analgésico is the precise medical term, medicamento para el dolor is more common in everyday conversation.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many Latin American countries, the standard way to say pain medicine is medicamento para el dolor. In Spain, the term medicamento analgésico is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of analgésico is analgésicos. As an adjective, it can change to the feminine analgésica if it modifies a feminine noun, such as sustancia.
How do you pronounce it?
/analˈxesiko/
Did you know?
- In several Latin American countries, the phrase matar el dolor 'to kill the pain' is a common colloquial way to describe the act of taking an analgésico.
- When treating a headache, Spanish speakers frequently avoid the term 'pain medicine' entirely in favor of pastilla para la cabeza, which literally means 'a pill for the head'.
- A Spanish speaker is significantly more likely to use the clinical word analgésico when shopping at a drugstore than an English speaker is to use the word 'analgesic'.
Examples in context
- ¿Podría darme un analgésico para el dolor de cabeza?Could you give me a painkiller for my headache?
- Doctor, ¿qué medicina me puede recetar para el dolor?Doctor, what medicine can you prescribe for the pain?
- Necesito un analgésico para este dolor de muela.I need a pain medicine for this toothache.
- ¿Me recomiendas un analgésico suave?Do you recommend a mild pain medicine?
- El médico me recetó un analgésico fuerte.The doctor prescribed me a strong pain medicine.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are at home and Daniel has a headache.
- DanielMe duele mucho la cabeza, Lucía.My head hurts a lot, Lucía.
- Lucía¿Tienes algún analgésico en el botiquín?Do you have any pain medicine in the medicine cabinet?
- DanielCreo que tengo uno en la cocina.I think I have one in the kitchen.
- LucíaVoy a buscarlo para ti ahora mismo.I will go look for it for you right now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry analgésico, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
