A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "I'm allergic to penicillin" in Spanish
Communicate a penicillin allergy in Spanish to ensure safe medical treatment and avoid adverse reactions.
Soy alérgico/a a la penicilina
soy ah-LEHR-hee-koh / ahneutral
Spanish TTS · 0:01
Tell a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist if you have a known allergy to penicillin. This is crucial information for any medical setting, including a hospital visit or a prescription refill.
Alternatives
- Tengo alergia a la penicilinaSlightly more common in some regions.
- Me da alergia la penicilinaMore informal, but still widely understood.
Ways to get it wrong
Confusing 'alérgico' with 'alergia'
'Alérgico/a' is an adjective describing you; 'alergia' is the noun for the condition.
Pronouncing 'penicilina' incorrectly
Stress the 'li' syllable: pe-ni-ci-LI-na, not pe-ni-SEE-lee-na.
A small cultural note
In many Spanish-speaking countries, it's common to use the masculine form 'alérgico' unless you are female, in which case you would use 'alérgica'. However, stating it as 'alérgico/a' covers both.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
What if I'm allergic to other medicines?
You can adapt the phrase by replacing 'penicilina' with the name of the medication. For example, 'Soy alérgico/a a la aspirina'.
How do I say 'I have an allergy' in Spanish?
You can say 'Tengo una alergia a...' followed by the substance. This is a common alternative way to express an allergy.
What does 'alérgico/a' mean?
'Alérgico' means allergic (masculine) and 'alérgica' means allergic (feminine). The '/a' is a common way to show both options.
