estreptococo
/estɾebtokoko/from spelling rules
The English phrase "strep" can be translated into Spanish as estreptococo.
In Spanish, the term refers to the common bacterial infection of the throat and tonsils.
Which one should you use?
Formal medical contexts may use Faringitis estreptocócica to specify streptococcal pharyngitis or Amigdalitis estreptocócica to specify streptococcal tonsillitis, which emphasizes the involvement of the tonsils. In casual conversation, the word Anginas is often used to describe throat infections associated with strep.
How do you pronounce it?
/estɾebtokoko/
Did you know?
- The scientific term estreptococo is built from the Ancient Greek words στρεπτός and κόκκος, which means 'twisted berry' or 'grain'. This describes the characteristic chain-like shape of the bacteria under a microscope.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, a person might say they have una angina to mean a sore throat, regardless of whether the cause is bacterial strep or a common virus.
- The term estreptococo is used globally in Spanish medical literature, but the colloquial preference for anginas can vary significantly between Spain and Latin American countries.
Examples in context
- ¡Tengo faringitis estreptocócica y necesito descansar!I have streptococcal pharyngitis and I need to rest!
- Mi hermano tiene anginas. Le duele mucho la garganta.My brother has a sore throat. His throat hurts a lot.
- Ayer fui al médico y me diagnosticaron amigdalitis estreptocócica.Yesterday, I went to the doctor, and they diagnosed me with streptococcal tonsillitis.
Example conversation
Mateo tells María why he missed class.
- MateoNo fui a clase porque tengo estreptococo.I didn't go to class because I have strep.
- MaríaLo siento, Mateo. ¿Te sientes muy mal?I'm sorry, Mateo. Do you feel very sick?
- MateoSí, me cuesta mucho tragar.Yes, it's very hard for me to swallow.
- MaríaDescansa mucho para que te cures pronto.Get plenty of rest so you recover soon.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry estreptococo, 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 estreptococo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
