esterilizar
/esteɾiliˈθaɾ/
To spay in Spanish is esterilizar.
The verb esterilizar is used to describe the process of removing ovaries or generally sterilizing an animal. It is a general term that covers both spaying a female and neutering a male. If you need to specify that you are spaying a female, you can include the gender of the animal, such as esterilizar a la perra (to spay the female dog).
Meaning: remove the ovaries (verb)
Which one should you use?
The term esterilizar is used for both spaying a female and neutering a male. If you want to emphasize the surgical procedure itself, you can use the formal phrase realizar una cirugía de esterilización (to perform a spay surgery).
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle esterilizada can be used as an adjective to describe a female animal that has been spayed.
How do you pronounce it?
/esteɾiliˈθaɾ/
Did you know?
- While esterilizar is the standard term, many Spanish speakers use the word castrar for both males and females, even though it literally means 'to castrate'.
- In some Latin American countries, the phrase operar al animal (to operate on the animal) is used as a common euphemism for spaying or neutering.
- The verb esterilizar is highly versatile and is used in Spanish for far more than just medical procedures. It can also mean to make something completely sterile, such as disinfecting a surface or even making a piece of land uninhabitable.
Examples in context
- Mi mascota será esterilizada este fin de semana.My pet will be spayed this weekend.
- Planeo castrar a mi perra para evitar camadas no deseadas.I plan to spay my female dog to prevent unwanted litters.
- La clínica veterinaria realizará una cirugía de esterilización en tu gata.The veterinary clinic will perform a spay surgery on your cat.
- Voy a operar a mi perrita para evitar embarazos no deseados.I'm going to spay my little dog to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
- Quiero esterilizar a mi gata.I want to spay my cat.
- Es importante esterilizar a las mascotas.It is important to spay pets.
- El veterinario va a esterilizar a la perrita.The veterinarian is going to spay the little dog.
Example conversation
At a veterinary clinic.
- MateoHola, quiero esterilizar a mi gatita.Hello, I want to spay my little cat.
- MaríaMuy bien, ella debe estar en ayunas.Very well, she must be fasting.
- MateoNo te preocupes, ella no ha comido nada.Don't worry, she hasn't eaten anything.
- MaríaPerfecto, pasen para la consulta.Perfect, come in for the consultation.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry esterilizar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
