Spanish word

quirófano

Pronunciation

IPA/kiˈɾofano/

Meaning

  • masculine nounoperating room

Example

El paciente está en el quirófano.

The patient is in the operating room.

Illustration for quirófano (operating room)

More examples

La familia espera noticias fuera del quirófano.

The family waits for news outside the operating room.

Core concept

Surgical theater with staff in scrubs around an operating table.

Common phrases

  • esperar fuera del quirófano

    wait outside the operating room

  • llevar al quirófano

    take to the operating room

Similar words

sala de operaciones: Sterile hospital room designated for carrying out surgical operations.
sala de cirugía: Hospital room set up specifically for conducting surgical procedures.
sala quirúrgica: Sterilized space furnished with surgical tools and monitoring devices for operations.

Definition in Spanish

Lugar dentro de un hospital destinado a realizar intervenciones quirúrgicas bajo medidas de esterilidad y con personal restringido.

Word origin

From Greek χειρουργείον (cheirourgeion), from χειρ 'hand' + ἔργον 'work', originally a place for manual medical work and adopted into Spanish via medieval Latin and Old Spanish forms.

Usage tips

  • When informing family, phrases like 'entró en el quirófano' or 'salió del quirófano' make clear whether the operation has started or finished.

Related words

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