Lael logo

quirúrgico means surgical — a common term in Medical Spanish. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: November 28, 2025

🩺 Medical Spanish

quirúrgico

adjective • /[kee-RUR-hee-ko]/

surgical

Example:

Fue un procedimiento quirúrgico menor.

It was a minor surgical procedure.

🧠 What does quirúrgico mean?

The adjective 'quirúrgico' means 'surgical' in English. It is used to describe anything related to or used in surgery, which is the branch of medicine concerned with treating injuries or disorders of the body by incision or manipulation. It modifies nouns such as 'procedimiento' (procedure), 'intervención' (intervention), 'instrumento' (instrument), or 'equipo' (team).

📚 Extra examples

  • El paciente se está recuperando de un procedimiento quirúrgico complejo.
    The patient is recovering from a complex surgical procedure.
  • Durante la pandemia, el uso de mascarillas quirúrgicas se volvió obligatorio en muchos lugares.
    During the pandemic, the use of surgical masks became mandatory in many places.
  • El informe requiere una precisión quirúrgica para evitar malentendidos.
    The report requires surgical precision to avoid misunderstandings.

💡 Did You Know?

The word 'quirúrgico' has its roots in the Greek 'kheirourgikós' (χειρουργικός), which comes from 'kheír' (hand) and 'érgon' (work). This etymology reflects the manual, hands-on nature of surgery.

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "quirúrgico"

Synonyms: operatorio, de cirugía
Opposites: médico, conservador, no invasivo

🔍 See more medical spanish words

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'surgical' in Spanish?
The most direct and common translation for 'surgical' is 'quirúrgico' (or 'quirúrgica', depending on the gender of the noun it modifies).
How do you pronounce 'quirúrgico' in Spanish?
It is pronounced 'kee-ROOR-hee-koh'. The stress is on the third-to-last syllable, 'rúr', which is indicated by the accent mark (tilde).
How do you use 'quirúrgico' in a sentence?
As an adjective, 'quirúrgico' must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. For example: 'El tratamiento quirúrgico' (The surgical treatment) or 'Las intervenciones quirúrgicas' (The surgical interventions).
What is the English translation of 'quirúrgico'?
The English translation of 'quirúrgico' is 'surgical'.
Does 'quirúrgico' change for gender or number?
Yes, it does. It has four forms: 'quirúrgico' (masculine singular), 'quirúrgica' (feminine singular), 'quirúrgicos' (masculine plural), and 'quirúrgicas' (feminine plural).
Is 'quirúrgico' common in everyday Spanish?
It is very common in medical, scientific, and healthcare contexts. In general conversation, its use is limited to discussions about medical topics. However, the phrase 'mascarilla quirúrgica' (surgical mask) has become very common.
Does 'quirúrgico' have slang or double meanings?
It does not have any common slang meanings. Figuratively, it can be used to describe something done with extreme precision, similar to the English phrase 'surgical precision' ('precisión quirúrgica').
Is 'quirúrgico' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
No, the word 'quirúrgico' has the same meaning and is used consistently across all Spanish-speaking regions.

📱 Download the App

Get reminders · Save favorites · Share words

Lael App Logo

Lael: Spanish Word of the Day

Download on the App Store