costra
/ˈkostɾa/feminine
The English word 'scab' is translated into Spanish as costra. If unsure, use costra. Wiktionary also lists carnero and postilla.
Meaning: incrustation over a wound (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| costra | /ˈkostɾa/ | feminine |
| carnero | /kaɾˈneɾo/ | masculine |
| postilla | /posˈtiʝa/ | feminine |
| grano | /ˈɡɾano/ | masculine |
| encostradura | /enkostɾaduɾa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
The term refers to the incrustation that forms over a wound. To be more precise and emphasize that the scab originated from a wound, you can use the phrase costra de una herida.
Which one should you use?
costra is the most common and standard neutral term used in both everyday conversation and medical contexts. In contrast, grano should not be used for a scab, as it refers to a pimple, grain or a small bump.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you might hear the terms costrón or costrita to refer to a scab.
How does it change in a sentence?
costra and encostradura are feminine nouns, while carnero and grano are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkostɾa/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use grano when you mean a scab. This word actually refers to a pimple, grain or small bump.
Did you know?
- The English word 'custard' is actually a distant relative of the Spanish costra, both tracing back to the Latin word for a hard shell or crust.
- While the English word 'scab' is used for both a wound and a person who abandons a strike, the Spanish word costra is strictly limited to the physical crust and cannot be used to insult a person's character.
- While costra is used for skin, the same word describes the hard outer layer of a loaf of bread or the salt deposits on a surface.
Examples in context
- Me lastimé el brazo y ahora tengo una costra.I hurt my arm and now I have a scab.
- No olvides limpiar la costra de tu herida con agua y jabón.Don't forget to clean the scab from your wound with water and soap.
- La costra se está cayendo.The scab is falling off.
- La costra de la herida se cayó.The scab from the wound fell off.
- No te toques la costra.Don't touch the scab.
- Tengo una costra en la rodilla.I have a scab on my knee.
Example conversation
Sofía is checking a scrape on Alejandro's knee.
- AlejandroMe pica mucho la costra.The scab is very itchy.
- SofíaNo la toques, Alejandro.Do not touch it, Alejandro.
- Alejandro¿Cuándo se quitará la costra?When will the scab go away?
- SofíaEn unos pocos días.In a few days.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “scab” translations and entries costra, carnero, postilla, grano, encostradura, 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 carnero, costra, grano, postilla, CC BY-SA 4.0.
