tenia
/ˈtenja/feminine
The English word tapeworm is tenia in Spanish. It is also spelled céstodo. Wiktionary also lists lombriz solitaria and cestodo.
Meaning: parasitical worm of the class Cestoda (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tenia | /ˈtenja/ | feminine |
| lombriz solitaria | /lombɾiθ solitaɾja/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /lombɾis solitaɾja/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
| cestodo | /θesˈtodo/ /sesˈtodo/ |
masculine |
| céstodo | /ˈθestodo/ /ˈsestodo/ |
masculine, alternative form |
The term refers to a parasitical worm of the class Cestoda.
What does it mean word for word?
The colloquial phrase lombriz solitaria literally translates to solitary worm.
Which one should you use?
lombriz solitaria is a common way to refer to a tapeworm in non-medical contexts. cestodo and céstodo are technical, scientific terms for the same organism.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, the word solitaria can be used to refer to a tapeworm.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun tenia is feminine and must be preceded by feminine articles like la or una. In contrast, the masculine noun cestodo must be preceded by masculine articles such as el or un.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtenja/
Did you know?
- The word tenia describes the parasite's shape through its connection to the Ancient Greek word for a 'ribbon' used to bind hair.
- The term lombriz solitaria reflects a traditional folk belief that this specific parasite lives in total isolation within the body.
- While a learner might expect lombriz to always mean 'worm', in most Spanish-speaking countries it actually refers specifically to an 'earthworm'.
Examples in context
- María fue al médico porque sospechaba que tenía una taenia solium.María went to the doctor because she suspected she had a tapeworm.
- La tenia es un parásito común.The tapeworm is a common parasite.
- El médico detectó una tenia en el examen.The doctor detected a tapeworm in the exam.
- Esa tenia puede causar muchos problemas de salud.That tapeworm can cause many health problems.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are talking about health risks of uncooked pork.
- LucíaMateo, no comas esa carne cruda.Mateo, don't eat that raw meat.
- Mateo¿Por qué? Se ve muy bien.Why? It looks very good.
- LucíaPodrías contagiarte de una tenia.You could get a tapeworm.
- MateoTienes razón, mejor la cocino.You're right, I'd better cook it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tapeworm” translations and entries tenia, lombriz solitaria, cestodo, céstodo, 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 lombriz, tenia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
