Spanish word

contagiar

Pronunciation

IPA/kontaˈxjaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbinfect

Example

La gripe puede contagiar a muchas personas.

The flu can infect many people.

Illustration for contagiar (infect)

More examples

Su entusiasmo puede contagiar al equipo.

His enthusiasm can infect the team.

Core concept

Transmission of a pathogen or feeling by contact or close interaction.

Common phrases

  • contagiar a alguien

    infect someone

  • contagiar una enfermedad

    infect someone with a disease

  • contagiar el virus

    infect someone with the virus

Similar words

infectar: Introduces pathogens into a person or animal's body, causing infection.
pegar: Illness spreads between people in informal, everyday speech.
transmitir: Moves pathogens between hosts through contact, droplets, or contaminated surfaces.

Definition in Spanish

Transmitir una enfermedad o, en sentido figurado, propagar una emoción, una idea u otra cosa contagiosa a otra persona u organismo.

Word origin

Verb formed from Spanish contagio (from Latin contagio/contagium) plus the verbal suffix -ar, with roots meaning 'touch' that imply transmission by contact.

Usage tips

  • For biological infection both contagiar and infectar appear in Spanish, but contagiar is the usual choice in everyday speech and for figurative senses like spreading moods.

Other meanings

  • transmitverb
  • spreadverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word