So you’re at the doctor’s office, or maybe you’re helping a family member navigate a medical checkup, and things are getting technical. You need to know: how do you say lymph nodes in Spanish?
The quick answer is ganglios linfáticos.
But honestly? Just knowing the dictionary definition isn't always enough when you're standing in an exam room. Language is messy. Medical Spanish is even messier because patients and doctors don't always use the same words. If you tell a grandmother in Mexico that her ganglios are swollen, she might look at you blankly, but if you mention las secas, she’ll know exactly what you mean.
Understanding the Terminology: Ganglios vs. Nódulos
In a formal medical setting, you will almost always hear the term ganglios linfáticos. This is the anatomical standard. The word ganglio comes from the Greek ganglion, meaning a knot or a swelling. It’s a perfect description for these little bean-shaped filters that keep our immune systems running.
Wait. Sometimes people say nódulos linfáticos. Is that wrong?
Technically, no. In English, we use "lymph nodes," and "nódulos" is a direct cognate. However, in the Spanish-speaking medical world—from Madrid to Buenos Aires—ganglios is the heavy hitter. If a radiologist sees a spot on a lung scan, they might call it a nódulo, but those little bumps in your neck? Those are ganglios.
Why context changes everything
If you are talking to a surgeon, use ganglios.
If you are talking to a neighbor, they might just say las bolitas (the little balls).
It sounds silly, but "tengo una bolita en el cuello" (I have a little ball in my neck) is probably the most common way a Spanish speaker describes a swollen lymph node to a general practitioner. You have to be ready for both the high-brow science and the street-level reality.
The Geography of Your Immune System in Spanish
When you’re describing where the swelling is, the vocabulary needs to be specific. You can't just point and grunt. Well, you can, but it’s better if you have the words.
Let's look at the "big three" areas where people usually notice issues. First, the neck. This area is referred to as cervical. So, ganglios cervicales. If the swelling is under the jaw, you’re looking at ganglios submandibulares.
Then you have the armpits. In Spanish, the armpit is the axila. Therefore, you have ganglios axilares. This is a big one in oncology conversations, especially regarding breast cancer screenings. Doctors will check the axila to see if the immune system is reacting to something local.
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Lastly, the groin. This is the ingle. The terms used here are ganglios inguinales.
- Cuello / Cervical: The neck area.
- Axila / Axilar: The armpit.
- Ingle / Inguinal: The groin.
When Things Get Swollen: Lymphadenopathy vs. "Hinchazón"
When a lymph node gets bigger, a doctor calls it linfadenopatía. It’s a mouthful. In everyday conversation, you’re just going to say they are hinchados (swollen) or inflamados (inflamed).
"Tengo los ganglios inflamados."
That’s your go-to phrase.
But here’s a weird bit of cultural linguistic history. In some regions, specifically in parts of Latin America, you might hear the word secas. It sounds like the word for "dry," but it’s actually an old-school way of referring to swollen lymph nodes in the groin or neck. If an older patient tells you "me salió una seca," they aren't talking about skin; they’re telling you they found a lump.
Does it hurt?
This is the first thing a doctor asks.
"¿Le duele?" (Does it hurt?)
Or, "¿Es doloroso al tacto?" (Is it painful to the touch?)
In Spanish, we differentiate between a "bulto" (a lump) that is móvil (movable) and one that is fijo (fixed). This distinction is massive in clinical diagnosis. A movable, painful lump often suggests an infection—like your body fighting off a nasty cold. A hard, painless, fixed lump? That’s when doctors start ordering biopsies.
Real-World Scenarios: At the Clinic
Imagine you are translating for someone. The doctor asks: "Since when have you noticed the swelling?"
You say: "¿Desde cuándo tiene los ganglios inflamados?"
The patient might respond: "Hace dos semanas, después de que me dio gripe." (Two weeks ago, after I got the flu.)
This is a classic "reactive" node. In Spanish, doctors call this ganglios reactivos. It just means the lymph nodes are doing their job, reacting to a virus or bacteria. It isn't a disease in itself; it's a symptom of the body’s defense system kicking into gear.
Common causes you might discuss:
- Infecciones: Infections (viral or bacterial).
- Faringitis: Strep throat or general sore throat.
- Mononucleosis: Often called "la enfermedad del beso" in Spanish-speaking countries too.
- Heridas: Sometimes an infected cut on the leg causes the ganglios inguinales to pop up.
The Role of the Lymphatic System (El Sistema Linfático)
To truly explain how do you say lymph nodes in Spanish with any depth, you have to mention the whole system. The sistema linfático is the drainage network of the body.
It carries linfa (lymph), a clear fluid full of white blood cells (glóbulos blancos).
The nodes act as filters. Think of them as security checkpoints. When "los soldados" (the soldiers/cells) catch a "patógeno" (pathogen), the node swells because it's working overtime. This is why we call it a "defensa."
If a doctor wants to check the whole system, they might mention the bazo (spleen). Don't confuse bazo with vaso (a glass of water). They sound identical in many Spanish dialects, but one is an organ and the other holds your Diet Coke.
Beyond the Basics: Biopsies and Specialists
If the swelling doesn't go away, the next step is often a biopsia.
There are two main types you’ll hear discussed in Spanish:
- PAAF (Punción Aspiración con Aguja Fina): This is a Fine Needle Aspiration.
- Biopsia por escisión: This is when they take the whole node out.
The specialist who deals with this is usually an hematólogo (hematologist) if it’s a blood-related issue, or an oncólogo (oncologist) if there is a fear of cancer. However, for a simple infection, you just see your médico de cabecera (primary care doctor).
Important Phrasing for Patients and Caregivers
If you need to describe symptoms accurately, keep these phrases in your pocket:
"Siento una masa aquí." (I feel a mass here.)
"No se mueve." (It doesn't move.)
"Ha crecido rápido." (It has grown fast.)
"Tengo sudores nocturnos." (I have night sweats—a key symptom often linked to lymph node issues.)
"He perdido peso sin intentarlo." (I've lost weight without trying.)
These details help a Spanish-speaking provider distinguish between a simple cold and something like linfoma (lymphoma).
Pronunciation Tips for "Ganglios Linfáticos"
Spanish pronunciation is phonetic, which is a blessing.
Gang-lee-ohs. The "G" is hard, like in "goat."
Leen-fah-tee-kohs. The emphasis is on the "fá" because of the accent mark (tilda).
If you say it too fast, it can sound like "gang-lee-os," but try to give each vowel its space. Spanish vowels are short and crisp. A-E-I-O-U. No sliding.
Cultural Nuances: The "Empacho" and Other Myths
In some rural or very traditional Spanish-speaking communities, people might attribute lumps or swellings to things like "aire" (air) or "mal de ojo" (evil eye). While these aren't medical terms, if you're working in a clinical setting, you have to respect the patient's vocabulary while gently steering them toward the medical reality of ganglios.
Never mock someone for saying they have "una seca." It’s a very old, very valid cultural term. Just acknowledge it and then use the word ganglio to bridge the gap to the clinical diagnosis.
Summary of Actionable Terms
To make sure you're prepared, here is the breakdown of the most critical terms to use:
- Lymph nodes: Ganglios linfáticos.
- Swollen: Inflamados / Hinchados.
- Neck: Cuello.
- Armpit: Axila.
- Groin: Ingle.
- Lump: Bulto / Masa / Bolita.
- Biopsy: Biopsia.
Next Steps for Accuracy
If you are currently experiencing swollen nodes and need to explain it to a Spanish-speaking doctor, start with the location. Point to the area and say, "Tengo un ganglio inflamado en el cuello."
Be prepared to answer how long it has been there and if you have had a fever (fiebre). If you are translating for someone else, always clarify if they mean a "nódulo" (which can be inside an organ) or a "ganglio" (the immune system nodes).
The most important thing is clarity. Use ganglios linfáticos for formal situations, but don't be afraid to use bolita if it helps a patient feel more comfortable explaining their symptoms.
When you're ready to dive deeper into medical Spanish, focus on the "verbos de dolencia"—words like doler, picar (itch), and molestar. Understanding how these verbs work with anatomical terms like ganglios will make your communication 100% more effective.