manguito rotador
/manɡito ɾotadoɾ/from spelling rulesmasculine
The English phrase "rotator cuff" is translated into Spanish as manguito rotador.
This term refers to the set of four smaller muscles in the shoulder. This is the standard medical and anatomical term used by doctors and in physical therapy in Spanish-speaking countries.
Meaning: set of four smaller muscles in the shoulder (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form manguito de los rotadores is commonly used in Mexico and Argentina.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, both the noun manguito and the adjective rotador must take the plural suffix -s, resulting in manguitos rotadores.
How do you pronounce it?
/manɡito ɾotadoɾ/
Did you know?
- Outside of anatomy, a manguito refers to a detachable wrist warmer or a muff used to keep hands warm in cold weather.
- The word manguito is a diminutive of manga, meaning 'sleeve'. The term literally translates to 'little sleeve', describing how the muscles wrap around the humerus like a garment sleeve.
- In Spanish, the suffix -ito usually denotes smallness or affection, but in manguito, it is a permanent part of the anatomical term regardless of the size of the patient.
Examples in context
- El médico me ha confirmado que tengo una lesión en el manguito de los rotadores.The doctor has confirmed that I have a rotator cuff injury.
- Trabajé demasiado y ahora tengo una inflamación en el manguito rotador.I worked too much, and now I have inflammation in my rotator cuff.
- Siento un dolor en el manguito rotador.I feel a pain in my rotator cuff.
- El médico revisó su manguito rotador.The doctor checked his rotator cuff.
- Tengo una lesión del manguito rotador.I have a rotator cuff injury.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are talking about an injury at a gym.
- Sofía¿Qué te pasó en el hombro, Alejandro?What happened to your shoulder, Alejandro?
- AlejandroMe lastimé el manguito rotador entrenando.I injured my rotator cuff while training.
- SofíaLo siento mucho, espero que te recuperes pronto.I'm so sorry, I hope you recover soon.
- AlejandroGracias, Sofía, voy a ir al fisioterapeuta.Thanks, Sofía, I'm going to go to the physiotherapist.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rotator cuff” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries manguito, CC BY-SA 4.0.
