Spanish word

cicatriz

Pronunciation

IPA/θikaˈtɾiθ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounscar

Example

Él tiene una cicatriz en la mejilla.

He has a scar on his cheek.

Illustration for cicatriz (scar)

More examples

La cicatriz en su brazo quedó apenas visible después de un año.

The scar on his arm was barely visible after a year.

Core concept

Healed skin mark left after a wound.

Common phrases

  • tener una cicatriz

    have a scar

  • cicatriz en la mejilla

    scar on the cheek

  • cicatriz quirúrgica

    surgical scar

Similar words

herida: Fresh injury involving a break in the skin that can bleed and cause pain.
lesión: Physical harm to tissues or organs, ranging from superficial damage to deeper impairment.
marca: Noticeable stain, trace, or blemish on a surface or on skin.
secuela: Persistent aftereffect or residual harm that continues after recovery from disease or trauma.

Definition in Spanish

Señal en la piel que permanece tras la cicatrización de una lesión y que puede variar en tamaño, color y textura.

Word origin

The word comes from Latin cicatrix, a classical term for the mark of a healed wound, and Spanish cicatriz preserves that sense.

Usage tips

  • Cicatriz is feminine (la cicatriz) and pluralizes as cicatrices, and it denotes the healed trace while herida refers to an open or fresh wound.

Related words

  • cicatrizarscarverb
  • cicatrizaciónscarringnoun
  • cicatricialcicatricialadjective

Word lists with this word