A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "My child is sick" in Spanish
Tell someone your son is unwell with this common and direct Spanish phrase.
Mi hijo está enfermo.
mee EE-ho es-TAH en-FER-mohneutral
Spanish TTS · 0:01
Use this when you need to inform someone, like a teacher or a doctor, that your son is not feeling well. It's a straightforward way to convey the situation.
Alternatives
- Mi niño está enfermo.Slightly more informal, 'niño' can also mean 'boy'.
- Mi muchacho está enfermo.More common in some Latin American countries, 'muchacho' can also mean 'boy' or 'young man'.
Ways to get it wrong
Using 'ser' instead of 'estar'
For temporary conditions like sickness, always use 'estar', not 'ser'.
Confusing 'enfermo' with 'embarazado'
'Enfermo' means sick; 'embarazado' means pregnant.
A small cultural note
In many Spanish-speaking cultures, children's health is a topic of great concern, and people may offer advice or express sympathy readily.
Frequently asked
How to say my daughter is sick in Spanish?
To say your daughter is sick, you would say 'Mi hija está enferma.' Remember to change 'hijo' to 'hija' and 'enfermo' to 'enferma'.
What's the difference between enfermo and mal?
'Enfermo' specifically refers to being ill or sick, often with a diagnosed condition. 'Mal' is a more general term for 'bad' or 'poorly'.
How to say my child is very sick?
You can say 'Mi hijo está muy enfermo' or 'Mi hija está muy enferma'. Adding 'muy' before 'enfermo/a' means 'very'.
