trauma
/ˈtɾauma/masculine
The English word "trauma" is trauma in Spanish.
trauma is used to refer to an emotional wound. In medical contexts, when referring specifically to physical trauma, the term traumatismo is commonly used instead. You may also encounter the phrase herida psicológica to mean "psychological wound".
Meaning: emotional wound (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
trauma is a masculine noun. When using the definite article, use the masculine form el trauma.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtɾauma/
Did you know?
- In colloquial Spanish, tener un trauma is often used hyperbolically to describe a strong dislike or a funny obsession with something, rather than a clinical psychological condition.
- The term traumatología refers to a medical specialty, but it is used by doctors to study bone and physical injuries rather than the psychological study of 'trauma'.
- While English speakers often use 'trauma' as an uncountable noun, Spanish speakers frequently treat it as a countable noun, referring to 'los traumas' to describe multiple distinct experiences.
Examples in context
- Trauma es un ladrón.Trauma is a thief.This sentence uses trauma to personify it as a thief.Tatoeba #11462772 by ecorralest101, translation #9781320 by shekitten
- El trauma psíquico es el origen de muchas neurosis.Psychological trauma is the origin of many neuroses.This sentence uses trauma to describe the origin of neuroses.Tatoeba #1476234 by marcelostockle, translation #11173151 by DJ_Saidez
- Me pregunto si podría estar relacionado con un trauma.I wonder if it might be trauma-related.This sentence uses trauma to discuss something being related to a traumatic event.Tatoeba #10031310 by manufrutos, translation #10031142 by shekitten
- El paciente ha sufrido un trauma emocionalThe patient has suffered an emotional trauma
- El accidente automovilístico causó un traumatismo cerebralThe car accident caused a cerebral trauma
- La experiencia traumática dejó una profunda herida psicológicaThe traumatic experience left a profound psychological wound
- Esa experiencia fue un choque para ellaThat experience was a shock for her
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are talking about a difficult past experience at a cafe.
- Alejandro¿Cómo te sientes hoy, Elena?How are you feeling today, Elena?
- ElenaSigo luchando con el trauma de aquel accidente.I am still struggling with the trauma of that accident.
- AlejandroSiento mucho que estés pasando por eso.I am very sorry you are going through that.
- ElenaGracias, Alejandro, por escucharme.Thank you, Alejandro, for listening to me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “trauma” translations and entries trauma, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
