Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| eflorescencia | /efloɾesˈθenθja/ /efloɾeˈsensja/ |
feminine |
| sarpullido | /ˌsaɾpuˈʝido/ | masculine |
| salpullido | /salpuˈʝido/ | masculine, alternative form |
The terms refer to an area of inflamed and irritated skin characterized by reddened spots, or an illness characterized by a type of rash.
Which one should you use?
eflorescencia is a formal or medical term, whereas sarpullido is the common everyday term. salpullido is a common alternative spelling of sarpullido.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
eflorescencia is a formal or medical term. sarpullido is a colloquial, everyday term. In formal or medical settings in Spain, you might also see erupción cutánea.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the term erupción is commonly used to describe a rash. Salpullido is particularly common in Latin American Spanish.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
sarpullido is a masculine noun and requires masculine articles like el or un. eflorescencia is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/efloɾesˈθenθja/
Did you know?
- The word sarpullido likely shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'serpent'. Both come from a root meaning 'to creep' or 'crawl', reflecting how a rash seems to spread across the skin.
- The word eflorescencia literally suggests a 'blooming'. This views the red spots of a rash as if they were tiny, unwanted flowers opening on the skin.
- The formal word eflorescencia is shared with the world of botany and chemistry. In those fields, it describes the process of a plant flowering or a salt crust forming on a wall.
Examples in context
- Nunca antes había visto yo un sarpullido de este color.Never before have I seen a rash of this color.This sentence is useful for describing the color of a sarpullido.Tatoeba #10321907 by Seael, translation #10362739 by dangell
- Llevará algún tiempo hasta que desaparezca este sarpullido.It'll take a while for this rash to go away.This sentence is useful for discussing how long a sarpullido will take to disappear.Tatoeba #7291189 by arh, translation #7285971 by CK
- Tom tiene el mismo sarpullido que yo.Tom has the same rash as I do.This sentence is useful for comparing one person's sarpullido to another's.Tatoeba #10336440 by DJ_Saidez, translation #3725917 by CM
- El médico me diagnosticó una erupción cutánea en el brazo derechoThe doctor diagnosed me with a rash on my right arm
- Tengo un brote en la pierna desde ayerI have a rash on my leg since yesterday
Example conversation
Lucía is showing a skin irritation to Javier.
- LucíaMira, tengo una eflorescencia en el brazo.Look, I have a rash on my arm.
- Javier¿Te pica mucho esa eflorescencia, Lucía?Does that rash itch a lot, Lucía?
- LucíaSí, me molesta bastante.Yes, it bothers me quite a bit.
- JavierDeberías ir al médico pronto.You should go to the doctor soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rash” translations and entries eflorescencia, sarpullido, salpullido, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sarpullido, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
