The following table presents the Spanish names of common prescription drugs and general drug categories that you will encounter in your profession.
English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
---|---|---|
albuterol | el albuterol | ale all-boo-tay-role |
ampicillin | la ampicilina | la ahm-pee-see-lee-nah |
analgesics | los analgésicos | lohs ah-nall-hay-see-kohs |
anesthetics | los anestésicos | lohs ah-nace-tay-see-kohs |
amphetamine | la anfetamina | la ahn-fay-tah-me-nah |
antacids | los antiácidos | lohs ahn-tee-ah-see-dohs |
antibiotics | los antibióticos | lohs ahn-tee-bee-oh-tee-kohs |
anticonvulsants | los anticonvulsivos | lohs ahn-tee-cone-bool-see-bohs |
antidepressants | los antidepresivos | lohs ahn-tee-day-pray-see-bohs |
antimalarics | los antimaláricos | lohs ahn-tee-ma-la-ree-kohs |
antiseptics | los antisépticos | lohs ahn-tee-sape-tee-kohs |
astringents | los astringentes | lohs ah-streen-hane-tace |
caffeine | la cafeína | la kah-fay-ee-nah |
cathartics | los catárticos | lohs kah-tar-tee-kohs |
decongestants | los descongestionantes | lohs dace-cone-hay-stee-oh-nahn-tace |
diuretics | los diuréticos | lohs dee-oo-ray-tee-kohs |
emetics | los eméticos | lohs ay-may-tee-kohs |
emollients | los emolientes | lohs ay-mo-lee-ain-tace |
estrogen | el estrógeno | ale ace-trow-hee-no |
steroids | los esteroides | lohs ace-tay-roy-dace |
phenobarbital | el fenobarbital | ale fay-no-bar-bee-tall |
insulin | la insulina | la een-sue-lee-nah |
laxatives | los laxantes | lohs lax-ahn-tace |
medications for diabetes | los medicamentos para diabetes | lohs may-dee-kah-main-tohs pa-rah dee-ah-bay-tace |
narcotics | los narcóticos | lohs nar-koh-tee-kohs |
penicillin | la penicilina | la pay-nee-see-lee-nah |
birth control pills | las píldoras anticonceptivas | lahs peel-door-ahs ahn-tee-cone-sape-tee-bahs |
purgatives | los purgantes | lohs pour-gahn-tace |
sedatives | los sedantes | lohs say-dahn-tace |
stimulants | los estimulantes | lohs ace-tee-moo-lahn-tace |
thyroid pills | los medicamentos para tiroide | lohs may-dee-kah-main-tohs pa-rah tee-roy-day |
tranquilizers | los tranquilizantes | lohs trahn-key-lee-sahn-tace |
As you can see, most prescription medications go by the same name in English and Spanish. There are many that do not appear on this list because they are called in Spanish by the same brand name that they are in English.
When using a generic, you can say, la forma generica de ("the generic form of") followed by the name of the medication to clarify.
If you are struggling with a concept or terminology in the course, you may contact SpanishforNursesSupport@capella.edu for assistance.
If you are having technical issues, please contact learningcoach@sophia.org.
Source: This content has been adapted from "Spanish for Nurses" by Stephanie Langston.