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

📅 Published: August 19, 2025

🩺 Medical Spanish

urgencias

noun • /[oor-HEN-syahs]/

emergency

Example:

Diríjalo a urgencias inmediatamente.

Take him to emergency immediately.

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🧠 What does urgencias mean?

Urgencias translates to "emergency" or "emergency room" in English. It refers to the department in a hospital that deals with acute illnesses and injuries requiring immediate medical attention. It can also be used more generally to describe an urgent situation requiring immediate action.

📚 Extra examples

  • Necesito ir a urgencias. Me duele mucho el pecho.
    I need to go to the emergency room. My chest hurts a lot.
  • Llama a urgencias, ha habido un accidente.
    Call emergency services, there's been an accident.
  • Trabajé en urgencias durante cinco años.
    I worked in the emergency room for five years.
  • Es una situación de urgencias.
    It's an emergency situation.

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'emergency' in Spanish?
The most common way to say "emergency" in Spanish is "urgencias", particularly when referring to the emergency room or a medical emergency. You can also use "emergencia" in more general situations.
How do you pronounce 'urgencias' in Spanish?
It's pronounced ooɾ-HEN-thee-ahs, with the stress on the second syllable.
How do you use 'urgencias' in a sentence?
Here are a few examples: "Voy a urgencias" (I'm going to the emergency room), "Llama a urgencias" (Call emergency services), or "Es una situación de urgencias" (It's an emergency situation).
What is the English translation of 'urgencias'?
The English translation of 'urgencias' is 'emergency room' or 'emergency'.
Does 'urgencias' change for gender or number?
No, 'urgencias' is always plural and doesn't have a singular form in this context. It doesn't change for gender either.
Is 'urgencias' common in everyday Spanish?
Yes, 'urgencias' is a common word and easily understood throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
Does 'urgencias' have slang or double meanings?
While 'urgencias' itself doesn't have slang or double meanings, you might hear colloquial expressions related to it depending on the region. For instance, some might refer to the emergency room as simply 'urgencias'.
Is 'urgencias' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
The meaning and usage of 'urgencias' are generally the same across Spain and Latin America. While regional variations in colloquial expressions might exist, the core meaning remains consistent.

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "urgencias"

Synonyms: emergencia, sala de emergencias

💡 Did You Know?

In some Spanish-speaking countries, you might also hear 'guardia' used informally to refer to the emergency room, but 'urgencias' is generally preferred and understood everywhere.

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