analgésico
/analˈxesiko/masculine
The Spanish word for painkiller is analgésico.
A painkiller is a drug that numbs the pain in the body. While analgésico refers specifically to a drug that reduces pain, the more general term medicamento can be used for any medicine.
Meaning: a drug that numbs the pain in the body (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin America, analgésico and pastilla para el dolor are used frequently. In Spain, you may encounter the term calmante.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word analgésico is a masculine noun. Because the word is masculine, you must use the masculine article un instead of the feminine una. The plural form of analgésico is analgésicos.
How do you pronounce it?
/analˈxesiko/
Did you know?
- In Mexico and Colombia, the term desinflamatorio is often used to describe a painkiller, even when the drug does not actually treat inflammation.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, people may use the word aspirina to refer to any type of painkiller, even if the medicine is actually ibuprofen or paracetamol.
- When speaking casually, rather than searching for the noun analgésico, many speakers prefer to use the verb phrase quitar el dolor. This translates literally to 'to take away the pain'.
Examples in context
- Ella se tomó un analgésico.She took a painkiller.This sentence shows how to use analgésico to describe someone taking a painkiller.Tatoeba #2005619 by Shishir, translation #2005620 by Shishir
- Necesito un analgésico.I need a painkiller.This sentence demonstrates how to express a need for an analgésico.Tatoeba #436836 by lukaszpp, translation #691370 by Shishir
- Necesito un analgésico para el dolorI need a painkiller for the pain
- No me siento bien, ¿tienes algún medicamento para el dolor?I don't feel well, do you have any pain medicine?
- Necesito una pastilla para el dolor de cabezaI need a pill for the headache
- Necesito un analgésico para el dolor muscularI need a painkiller for muscle pain
- ¿Tienen algún analgésico?Do you have any painkillers?
- El analgésico es muy efectivo.The painkiller is very effective.
Example conversation
Alejandro is feeling unwell at home and asks Sofía for help.
- AlejandroSofía, ¿tienes algún analgésico?Sofía, do you have any painkiller?
- SofíaSí, tengo uno en el botiquín.Yes, I have one in the medicine cabinet.
- AlejandroGracias, me duele mucho la cabeza.Thank you, my head hurts a lot.
- SofíaTómalo y descansa un poco.Take it and rest a little.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “painkiller” translations and entries analgésico, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
