parásito
/paˈɾasito/masculine
The English word parasite is parásito in Spanish.
In a biological sense, parásito refers to an organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism.
Meaning: (biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
Parásito is a masculine noun. The feminine form of the word is parásita.
How do you pronounce it?
/paˈɾasito/
Did you know?
- While English uses 'parasite' for biology, Spanish speakers often use the word huésped for 'host', which is the same word used for a 'guest' in a hotel.
- The Latin root of parásito actually comes from the Greek 'parasitos', which originally meant 'one who eats at another's table'.
- The term parásito is used in Spanish computing to describe 'bloatware' or programs that consume system resources without providing a benefit.
Examples in context
- ¡No eres nada más que un parásito social!You're nothing more than a social parasite!This sentence illustrates how the word can be used to describe a social parasite.Tatoeba #1331957 by marcelostockle, translation #1331956 by Scott
- El anquilostoma es un gusano, parásito del hombre, que se pega al intestino delgado.Hookworm is a worm, a parasite of man, that sticks to the small intestine.This sentence provides a biological example of a parasite in humans.Tatoeba #4394758 by saverius, translation #4435309 by LB
- En sentido estricto, un virus es un programa que no puede subsistir por si solo, es un programa que se instala como parásito de otro programa para multiplicarse y realizar acciones siniestras.Strictly speaking, a virus is a program that can't survive on its own, it's a program that installs itself as a parasite of another program to multiply and carry out sinister actions.This sentence shows a metaphorical use of the word regarding computer viruses.Tatoeba #1133060 by marcelostockle, translation #9321129 by DJ_Saidez
- El parásito se alimenta de su anfitrión.The parasite feeds off its host.
- La relación parasitaria es perjudicial para el hospedador.The parasitic relationship is harmful to the host.
- La infección por helmintos es común en ciertas áreas tropicales.Infection by helminths is common in certain tropical areas.
- No seas sanguijuela y busca tu propio trabajo.Don't be a parasite and find your own job.
- No te juntes con él, es una garrapata que solo te quitará energía.Don't hang out with him, he's a parasite that will only drain your energy.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are studying biology in a library.
- MateoSofía, ¿qué es exactamente un parásito?Sofía, what exactly is a parasite?
- SofíaEs un organismo que vive a costa de otro.It is an organism that lives at the expense of another.
- MateoEntonces, el mosquito actúa como un parásito.So, the mosquito acts as a parasite.
- SofíaSí, Mateo, así es como funciona.Yes, Mateo, that is how it works.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “parasite” translations and entries parásito, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries parásito, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
