vacuna
/baˈkuna/feminine
The English word "vaccine" is translated into Spanish as vacuna.
The term refers to a substance used to stimulate the body's production of antibodies and provide immunity against a disease. While vacuna is the noun for the substance itself, you may also encounter the verb vacunar, which means "to vaccinate" and the reflexive form vacunarse, which is commonly used to express the act of receiving a vaccine.
Meaning: substance given to stimulate a body’s production of antibodies and provide immunity against a disease (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun vacuna is feminine. To express the plural "vaccines", use vacunas.
How do you pronounce it?
/baˈkuna/
Did you know?
- In some regions, vacuna is used as a slang term for an extortion payment made to criminals for 'protection'.
- The word vacuna comes from vaca, meaning 'cow'. This is because the first successful vaccines were derived from cowpox to prevent smallpox.
- The term vacuna is often used colloquially to refer to any injectable medication, not just those that provide immunity.
Examples in context
- El enfermero me inyecta una vacuna.The nurse injects me with a vaccine.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use the word vacuna in the context of a nurse performing an injection.Tatoeba #6619880 by arh, translation #11180925 by DJ_Saidez
- Hoy me vacunan de la segunda dosis.Today I recieved the second dose of the vaccine.This sentence shows how the concept of receiving a dose is expressed.Tatoeba #10197110 by Seael, translation #12923720 by araneo
- El enfermero me administró una vacuna.The nurse gave me a vaccine.This sentence demonstrates the use of the noun vacuna when describing a medical administration.Tatoeba #6619881 by arh, translation #8315849 by magnificentgoddess
- Doctor, ¿me puedo aplicar la vacuna contra la gripe?Doctor, can I get the flu vaccine?
- Me toca el pinchazo de la gripe el próximo mes.I'm getting the flu vaccine next month.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are talking about their health appointments.
- LucíaMañana tengo que ir por mi vacuna.I have to go for my vaccine tomorrow.
- Alejandro¿Es la primera dosis, Lucía?Is it the first dose, Lucía?
- LucíaSí, pero me da miedo la vacuna.Yes, but I am afraid of the vaccine.
- AlejandroNo te preocupes, Alejandro te acompaña.Don't worry, Alejandro will go with you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vaccine” translations and entries vacuna, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vacuna, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
