vacuna contra el herpes zóster
/bakuna kontɾa el eɾpes θosteɾ/from spelling rules
The shingles vaccine in Spanish is vacuna contra el herpes zóster.
This phrase refers to the medical injection used to prevent the viral infection that causes shingles. While English speakers often use the colloquial term 'shingles', Spanish speakers in medical contexts almost exclusively use the formal name 'herpes zóster'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of vacuna (vaccine), contra (against) and el herpes zóster (the herpes zoster virus).
Which one should you use?
You can use vacuna contra el herpes zóster to mean 'vaccine against herpes zoster' or replace the preposition contra with para to say vacuna para el herpes zóster, which means 'vaccine for shingles'. Both are common and correct ways to express the purpose of the vaccine.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the skin rash caused by herpes zóster is colloquially called culebrilla, which means 'little snake'.
- The Spanish word vacuna comes from vaca, meaning 'cow'. This is because the first vaccines were derived from cowpox.
- The phrase herpes zóster is an internationalism used in Spanish, meaning it is borrowed directly from Greek and Latin roots rather than being a native Spanish creation.
Examples in context
- La vacuna contra el herpes zóster protege contra la enfermedad del herpes zóster, también conocida como culebrilla.The shingles vaccine protects against the disease known as shingles or 'culebrilla.'
- La vacuna contra el herpes zóster ayuda a prevenir la culebrilla, reduciendo la intensidad de los síntomas y el riesgo de complicaciones graves.The shingles vaccine helps prevent shingles, reducing the severity of symptoms and the risk of serious complications.
- Necesito la vacuna contra el herpes zóster.I need the shingles vaccine.
- ¿Es efectiva la vacuna contra el herpes zóster?Is the shingles vaccine effective?
- Mi médico recomendó la vacuna contra el herpes zóster.My doctor recommended the shingles vaccine.
Example conversation
Daniel and María are at a medical clinic.
- DanielHola, vengo por la vacuna contra el herpes zóster.Hello, I'm here for the shingles vaccine.
- MaríaPerfecto, Daniel. Por favor, tome asiento.Perfect, Daniel. Please, take a seat.
- Daniel¿Es muy dolorosa esta vacuna contra el herpes zóster?Is this shingles vaccine very painful?
- MaríaNo, solo sentirá un pequeño pinchazo.No, you will only feel a small prick.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries contra, el, vacuna, CC BY-SA 4.0.
