retraso mental
/retɾaso mental/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'retardedness' is translated into Spanish as retraso mental.
The term refers to a state of having a mental disability that affects cognitive development. For a formal term describing significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior, use discapacidad intelectual. For neutral clinical or diagnostic contexts referring to a deficiency in cognitive abilities, use déficit cognitivo.
How do you pronounce it?
/retɾaso mental/
Did you know?
- The word retraso is used in daily Spanish to describe anything that is running late, such as a flight, a train or a payment.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the term especial is used as a gentle euphemism to describe a person with retraso mental without using clinical language.
- While retraso mental is the literal translation, using it as a slur in Spain and Latin America is similar to the English use of 'retarded' and is increasingly viewed as offensive in social settings.
Examples in context
- El retraso mental afecta el aprendizaje.Mental retardation affects learning.
- Se debe estudiar el impacto del retraso mental.The impact of mental retardation must be studied.
- El diagnóstico confirmó un retraso mental leve.The diagnosis confirmed a mild mental retardation.
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are discussing a medical report.
- MaríaEl informe menciona un retraso mental.The report mentions a mental disability.
- Alejandro¿Es muy grave el caso, María?Is the case very serious, María?
- MaríaNo, es solo un grado leve.No, it is only a mild degree.
- AlejandroEntiendo, gracias por explicarlo.I understand, thank you for explaining it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
