Spanish word

aborto

Pronunciation

IPA/aˈβoɾto/

Meaning

  • masculine nounabortion

Example

¿Crees que el aborto debería ser legal?

Do you think abortion should be legal?

Illustration for aborto (abortion)

More examples

Tuvo un aborto espontáneo el mes pasado.

She had a miscarriage last month.

Core concept

Loss of an embryo or fetus during pregnancy.

Common phrases

  • aborto espontáneo

    miscarriage

  • aborto provocado

    induced abortion

  • aborto legal

    legal abortion

Similar words

aborto espontáneo: Natural end of a pregnancy that causes loss of the embryo or fetus.
interrupción voluntaria del embarazo: Voluntary termination of a pregnancy at the person's request.
aborto terapéutico: Termination of a pregnancy for medical reasons to protect maternal or fetal health.

Definition in Spanish

Pérdida voluntaria o involuntaria del embrión o feto durante el embarazo.

Word origin

From Latin abortus (ab- 'away' + oriri 'to be born'), literally 'a birth that stops', which becomes Spanish aborto.

Usage tips

  • A sensitive term: Spanish speakers often prefer 'interrupción voluntaria del embarazo' in medical/legal contexts and use 'aborto espontáneo' to mean miscarriage.

Other meanings

  • miscarriagenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • abortarhave an abortionverb

Word lists with this word