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curar means to heal / to treat — a common term in Medical Spanish. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: October 9, 2025

🩺 Medical Spanish

curar

verb • /[koo-RAR]/

to heal / to treat

Example:

Vamos a curar la herida con cuidado.

We’re going to carefully treat the wound.

🧠 What does curar mean?

The Spanish verb "curar" means "to heal" or "to treat." It can refer to the process of recovering from an illness or injury, or the act of providing medical care. It can also be used metaphorically, like "to cure a problem." The context usually makes the specific meaning clear.

📚 Extra examples

  • El médico curó mi herida.
    The doctor healed my wound.
  • Estoy tomando medicina para curar la infección.
    I'm taking medicine to cure the infection.
  • Ella cura a los pacientes con hierbas medicinales.
    She treats patients with medicinal herbs.
  • Es difícil curar una enfermedad crónica.
    It's difficult to cure a chronic illness.
  • Esperamos que el nuevo programa cure la pobreza.
    We hope the new program cures poverty.

💡 Did You Know?

The word "curar" comes from the Latin word "curare," which means "to take care of."

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "curar"

Synonyms: sanar, tratar, remediar
Opposites: enfermar, empeorar

🔍 See more medical spanish words

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'to heal / to treat' in Spanish?
The most common way to say 'to heal' or 'to treat' in Spanish is "curar."
How do you pronounce 'curar' in Spanish?
Curar is pronounced koo-RAR, with the stress on the second syllable.
How do you use 'curar' in a sentence?
Here are some examples: "El médico curó la herida" (The doctor healed the wound), or "Estoy tomando medicina para curar la infección" (I'm taking medicine to cure the infection).
What is the English translation of 'curar'?
Curar translates to 'to heal' or 'to treat' in English.
Does 'curar' change for gender or number?
Yes, like most verbs, 'curar' conjugates depending on the subject. For example, "yo curo" (I heal/treat), "él cura" (he heals/treats), "ellos curan" (they heal/treat).
Is 'curar' common in everyday Spanish?
Yes, 'curar' is relatively common. You'll hear it in conversations about health, medicine, and even in metaphorical contexts.
Does 'curar' have slang or double meanings?
While primarily used in a medical sense, 'curar' can colloquially mean 'to preserve' food, like curing meat. In some Latin American countries, it can also mean 'to get drunk' (curarse).
Is 'curar' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
The core meaning remains consistent, but the slang usage of 'curarse' to mean 'to get drunk' is more common in Latin America.
How do you conjugate 'curar' in Spanish?
Here's the present tense: yo curo, tú curas, él/ella/usted cura, nosotros/as curamos, vosotros/as curáis, ellos/ellas/ustedes curan.

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