At the A1 level, 'medicar' is a word you might not use often, but it is important for talking about being sick. It simply means 'to give medicine'. Think of it as 'dar medicina'. You might hear it if you go to the doctor in a Spanish-speaking country. The most important thing to know is that it is a verb that describes what a doctor or a parent does when someone is ill. For example, 'El doctor medica al niño' (The doctor gives medicine to the boy). At this stage, you should focus on the present tense and the basic idea of helping someone feel better with medicine. You will mostly see it in very simple sentences about health and family care. It is helpful to associate it with the word 'médico' (doctor), as they share the same root. Even though it's a B1 word, knowing the basic action of 'medicar' helps you understand what's happening at a clinic. Remember, at A1, we keep things simple: who is giving the medicine and who is receiving it. Don't worry about complex grammar yet, just focus on the meaning of providing medical help through drugs or syrups.
At the A2 level, you begin to use 'medicar' in more varied contexts, such as talking about your pets or describing past events. You will learn that 'medicar' is a regular -ar verb, but you must be careful with the 'yo' form in the past: 'Yo mediqué'. This 'qu' is necessary to keep the 'k' sound. You might say 'Ayer mediqué a mi perro porque estaba enfermo' (Yesterday I medicated my dog because he was sick). You also start to see the word 'medicamento' (medication) and 'medicina' (medicine), which are related. A2 learners should be able to describe a simple medical routine using this verb. You might also encounter the reflexive 'automedicarse' in simple warnings like 'No es bueno automedicarse' (It's not good to medicate yourself). This level is about expanding the 'who' and 'when'. You can talk about medicating family members, pets, or yourself using the basic tenses (Present and Preterite). It's also a good time to practice the personal 'a'—always say 'medicar a' followed by a person. This is a common hurdle for A2 students, but mastering it early makes your Spanish sound much more natural and correct.
B1 is the level where 'medicar' becomes a very useful part of your vocabulary. You are now expected to discuss health, social issues, and more complex personal experiences. At this level, you should understand the difference between 'medicar' (to treat with medicine) and 'recetar' (to prescribe). You can use 'medicar' to talk about long-term treatments or the ethics of medicine. For example, '¿Es necesario medicar a los niños por problemas de conducta?' (Is it necessary to medicate children for behavioral problems?). You will also use the subjunctive mood with this verb, such as 'Dudo que el médico me medique hoy' (I doubt the doctor will medicate me today). This level requires you to handle the spelling changes (c to qu) in the subjunctive forms smoothly. You should also be comfortable using the reflexive 'se medica' to describe habits in society. B1 learners can participate in debates about healthcare where 'medicar' is a key term. You'll also notice it in news headlines about pharmacy regulations or health campaigns. It's no longer just a simple action; it's a concept involving professional responsibility and personal health choices.
At the B2 level, you use 'medicar' with nuance and precision. you can discuss the pharmaceutical industry, medical ethics, and complex health protocols. You might use the passive voice: 'El paciente fue medicado sin su consentimiento' (The patient was medicated without his consent). You are also familiar with related terms like 'sobremedicar' (to over-medicate) and can use them to express critical opinions. 'Creo que la sociedad actual tiende a sobremedicar cualquier síntoma de tristeza' (I believe today's society tends to over-medicate any symptom of sadness). Your grammar should be solid, allowing you to use the verb in conditional sentences: 'Si yo fuera médico, no medicaría tan a la ligera' (If I were a doctor, I wouldn't medicate so lightly). B2 learners should also understand the metaphorical use of the word, although rare, in literary contexts. You can distinguish between 'medicar', 'administrar', and 'prescribir' based on the formality of the situation. You are likely to hear this word in podcasts about science, health, or sociology, and you should be able to summarize those discussions using 'medicar' correctly in various compound tenses like the Future Perfect or the Pluperfect Subjunctive.
C1 learners use 'medicar' in professional, academic, or highly formal contexts. You understand the deep implications of the word in medical law and bioethics. You can discuss 'el derecho a no ser medicado' (the right not to be medicated) and use the verb in complex argumentative structures. Your vocabulary around this word is extensive, including collocations like 'medicar paliativamente' (to medicate palliatively). You can analyze the socio-economic factors that lead to 'automedicación' in developing countries. In writing, you use 'medicar' to describe systematic pharmacological interventions in historical or scientific texts. For instance, 'Históricamente, se ha tendido a medicar a las mujeres por condiciones que hoy consideramos naturales'. You are sensitive to the register of the word, knowing when to use 'medicar' versus more technical terms like 'farmacoterapia'. Your use of the verb is effortless, even in the most complex grammatical constructions like 'Habiendo sido medicado el paciente, se procedió a la observación'. At this level, 'medicar' is just one tool in a very sophisticated linguistic toolkit for discussing the human condition, science, and society.
At the C2 level, 'medicar' is handled with the mastery of a native speaker or a professional in the field. You can use it to discuss the finest points of pharmacology, philosophy of medicine, and public policy. You might explore the etymological roots and how the meaning has shifted from general 'healing' in Latin to the specific 'pharmaceutical treatment' of today. You can write academic papers or give presentations where 'medicar' is used to critique the 'medicalization' (medicalización) of life. You use the verb in highly stylized or rhetorical ways. For example, 'Medicar el síntoma ignorando la causa es el gran pecado de la medicina moderna'. You are capable of using 'medicar' in all its forms, including rare or archaic uses found in classical literature. Your understanding of the word includes its legal definitions in different Spanish-speaking jurisdictions. You can engage in high-level debates about the 'sobremedicación' of the elderly or the ethical dilemmas of medicating in end-of-life care. For a C2 learner, 'medicar' is not just a verb; it is a gateway to discussing the intersection of technology, biology, and ethics at the highest level of linguistic abstraction and precision.

medicar في 30 ثانية

  • To treat a person or animal using medicine.
  • A regular -ar verb with a 'c' to 'qu' spelling change in some forms.
  • Often used reflexively as 'automedicarse' (to self-medicate).
  • Focuses on the act of giving medicine, not just the prescription.
The Spanish verb medicar is a cornerstone of medical and daily health-related vocabulary. At its core, it means to administer or prescribe medicine to a person or animal to treat a condition. However, its usage goes far beyond the simple act of swallowing a pill. In the Spanish-speaking world, the concept of medicar carries a weight of professional authority; typically, it is the doctor (el médico) who performs this action. When a physician decides to medicar a patient, they are making a clinical judgment that pharmaceutical intervention is necessary for recovery or management of symptoms.
Clinical Context
In a hospital or clinic, this verb is used to describe the ongoing treatment plan. For example, 'El doctor decidió medicar al paciente con antibióticos' (The doctor decided to treat the patient with antibiotics).

Es peligroso medicar a los niños sin consultar primero a un pediatra profesional.

Beyond the professional setting, you will frequently encounter the reflexive form: automedicarse. This is a significant cultural and social topic in many Spanish-speaking countries where access to pharmacies is high but access to doctors may vary. In veterinary science, the word is equally vital. If you take your pet to the 'veterinario', they might choose to medicar the animal for parasites or infections. The word implies a systematic approach to health. It is not just about a single dose; it often refers to a course of treatment. Culturally, there is often a debate about over-medicating (sobremedicar), especially in elderly care or mental health. This shows the word's flexibility in discussing social issues. Furthermore, in literature, one might see 'medicar' used metaphorically, such as 'medicar las penas' (to treat one's sorrows), though this is much less common than its literal medical application.
Social Usage
In news reports, you might hear about 'la tendencia a medicar problemas sociales' (the tendency to medicate social problems), highlighting a critique of modern pharmacology.

No podemos medicar cada síntoma leve; a veces el cuerpo necesita tiempo para sanar solo.

Understanding 'medicar' requires recognizing the 'c' to 'qu' spelling change in certain tenses. For example, 'Yo mediqué' (I medicated) ensures the hard 'k' sound is preserved. This phonetic consistency is key for B1 learners. Finally, distinguish 'medicar' from 'recetar'. While 'recetar' is to write the prescription, 'medicar' is the broader act of treating with the medicine itself. You might 'medicar' someone in an emergency without a written 'receta' if you are a trained professional using available supplies.
Patient Interaction
'¿Cómo lo vamos a medicar?' is a common question from a family member to a doctor, asking for the specific treatment plan and medication type.

La enfermera procedió a medicar al herido antes de su traslado al hospital central.

Si decides medicar a tu mascota en casa, asegúrate de seguir las dosis exactas indicadas.

Using medicar correctly involves understanding its role as a transitive verb, meaning it usually takes a direct object—the person or animal being treated. In Spanish, when the direct object is a person, we must use the 'personal a'. For example, 'El médico medica a la paciente'. This is a fundamental rule that learners often forget. The verb follows the regular -ar conjugation pattern, but with a critical spelling change in the Preterite 'yo' form and all forms of the Present Subjunctive. To maintain the hard 'k' sound of the infinitive, the 'c' changes to 'qu' before an 'e'.
Preterite Tense
'Yo mediqué a mi perro ayer' (I medicated my dog yesterday). Note the 'qu' replacing the 'c'.

Espero que el doctor no medique a mi abuelo con algo muy fuerte.

When we talk about the general practice of giving medicine, we use the infinitive. 'Medicar sin diagnóstico es un error grave' (Medicating without a diagnosis is a serious error). In this case, 'medicar' acts as the subject of the sentence. The reflexive form automedicarse is perhaps more common in daily conversation than the base verb. It describes the act of taking medicine without professional advice. 'No te automediques' is a common warning seen in health campaigns.
Reflexive Construction
'Mucha gente se medica a sí misma para evitar ir al hospital' (Many people medicate themselves to avoid going to the hospital).

Si el dolor persiste, el especialista tendrá que medicar la zona afectada directamente.

In passive constructions, 'medicar' is used to describe the state of a patient. 'El paciente fue medicado inmediatamente' (The patient was medicated immediately). This uses the past participle 'medicado'. We also see it in the context of psychiatry: 'medicar a un niño con TDAH' (to medicate a child with ADHD). This is a sensitive topic that requires precise language.
Future Intentions
'Vamos a medicar al grupo de control con un placebo' (We are going to medicate the control group with a placebo).

¿Por qué decidieron medicar al atleta antes de la competencia?

Antes de medicar, el protocolo exige una revisión completa de la historia clínica.

No es ético medicar a alguien sin su consentimiento informado.

You will hear medicar in several distinct environments, each providing a different nuance to its meaning. The most obvious is the hospital setting. During 'la ronda médica' (the medical round), doctors and nurses discuss how to medicar patients who are not responding to initial treatments. You might overhear: 'Hay que medicar a la paciente de la habitación 302 para la fiebre'. Here, it is clinical and procedural.
Pharmacies (Farmacias)
Pharmacists often warn customers: 'Tenga cuidado al medicar a su hijo, lea bien las instrucciones'. They serve as a secondary line of defense against improper medication.

En la televisión, los anuncios de salud siempre advierten: 'No se medique si los síntomas persisten'.

Another common place is in veterinary clinics. Pet owners are frequently instructed on how to medicar their pets at home. 'Es difícil medicar a un gato' (It's difficult to medicate a cat) is a sentiment shared by many Spanish-speaking pet owners. In the news and media, 'medicar' is often used in discussions about public health crises, such as the opioid epidemic or the over-prescription of antibiotics. You might hear a news anchor say: 'La tendencia de medicar el estrés laboral está en aumento'. This usage is more critical and sociological.
Educational Settings
In schools, teachers and parents might discuss whether to medicar a child for behavioral issues like hyperactivity, a topic often fraught with debate.

El documental exploraba cómo las farmacéuticas presionan a los médicos para medicar más a la población.

At home, among family, the word comes up when someone is sick. '¿Ya medicaste al abuelo?' (Have you already medicated Grandpa?). It implies following a schedule of pills or syrups. It’s part of the 'cuidado' (care) vocabulary.
Sports and Athletics
In sports medicine, 'medicar' is used regarding injury recovery. 'Tuvieron que medicar al defensa para que pudiera jugar la final'.

No es bueno medicar el dolor sin saber cuál es su origen real.

La misión humanitaria llegó para medicar a los afectados por el brote de cólera.

El psiquiatra prefiere no medicar hasta haber realizado varias sesiones de terapia.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make with medicar is confusing it with the English word 'to medicate' in contexts where Spanish prefers recetar (to prescribe). In English, we might say 'The doctor medicated him,' but in Spanish, if you mean the doctor wrote a prescription, you should use 'El médico le recetó una medicina'. Medicar is the actual application or the general treatment plan.
The 'Personal A' Error
Incorrect: 'Medicar el paciente'. Correct: 'Medicar al paciente'. Because the patient is a human, the personal 'a' is mandatory.

Muchos estudiantes olvidan la 'a' personal al decir: 'Tengo que medicar a mi hijo'.

Another common error is failing to use the reflexive form when talking about oneself. In English, we say 'I am medicating for my cold'. In Spanish, you must say 'Me estoy medicando para mi resfriado'. Without the 'me', the sentence feels incomplete or implies you are medicating someone else. Confusion between medicar and curar is also prevalent. 'Curar' means to heal or cure. You 'medicate' a patient in hopes that the medicine will 'cure' them. They are not interchangeable. 'El médico lo medicó pero no lo curó' (The doctor medicated him but didn't cure him).
Preposition Pitfalls
Learners often use 'con' when they should use 'por' or vice versa. Use 'con' for the instrument (medicine) and 'por' for the reason. 'Lo medicaron con aspirina por su dolor'.

Es un error común pensar que medicar es lo mismo que recetar; el primero es actuar, el segundo es autorizar.

Finally, there's the 'over-medication' confusion. In English, we say 'he is over-medicated'. In Spanish, we use the verb sobremedicar. Using 'está muy medicado' is acceptable, but 'sobremedicado' is more precise.
Subject-Verb Agreement
When the subject is 'la gente' (people), remember it is singular. 'La gente se medica' (Correct) vs 'La gente se medican' (Incorrect).

Asegúrate de no medicar a nadie basándote solo en consejos de internet.

El veterinario advirtió: 'No intente medicar al gato con medicinas para humanos'.

Si el paciente se niega a que lo mediquen, debemos respetar su autonomía.

Understanding the synonyms and related terms for medicar will greatly expand your medical Spanish. The most direct synonym is tratar (to treat). While 'tratar' is broader and can include physical therapy or surgery, in a medicinal context, they overlap significantly. 'El médico está tratando al paciente con fármacos' is almost identical to 'El médico está medicando al paciente'.
Medicar vs. Recetar
'Recetar' means to write a prescription. 'Medicar' is the act of giving the medicine. A doctor receta a pill, and then the nurse medica the patient.

En lugar de medicar inmediatamente, algunos médicos prefieren esperar y ver la evolución.

Another important word is administrar (to administer). This is more formal and technical. It is used for the physical act of giving the dose. 'Administrar una inyección' is more common than 'medicar con una inyección'. Then there is prescribir (to prescribe). This is a formal synonym for 'recetar'. You will see this in medical journals or formal reports. 'El protocolo prescribe medicar al paciente cada ocho horas'.
Medicar vs. Atender
'Atender' means to look after or attend to. It covers the whole care process, while 'medicar' is specific to the drugs.

Es posible tratar una infección sin necesidad de medicar con antibióticos potentes.

For more natural or informal settings, people might use phrases like 'dar algo para...' (to give something for...). 'Le dieron algo para la tos' is a common way to say someone was medicated for a cough without using the formal verb.
Medicar vs. Dosificar
'Dosificar' refers to the precise measuring of the dose. 'Hay que dosificar bien antes de medicar'.

El psiquiatra decidió prescribir un nuevo fármaco para medicar la ansiedad.

No es lo mismo atender una emergencia que medicar una enfermedad crónica.

Prefiero sanar con remedios naturales antes que medicar con químicos.

How Formal Is It?

حقيقة ممتعة

The root 'med-' actually comes from an Indo-European root meaning 'to take appropriate measures' or 'to advise'.

دليل النطق

UK /me.ðiˈkaɾ/
US /me.ðiˈkaɾ/
Stress is on the last syllable: me-di-KAR.
يتقافى مع
cantar llegar hablar pensar luchar soñar actuar sanar
أخطاء شائعة
  • Pronouncing the 'd' too hard like an English 'd'.
  • Forgetting the 'r' tap at the end.
  • Stress on the second syllable (wrong: me-DI-kar).
  • Pronouncing 'c' as 's' (it's always 'k' here).
  • Vowel reduction (don't turn the 'e' into a schwa).

مستوى الصعوبة

القراءة 2/5

Easy to recognize due to English cognate 'medicate'.

الكتابة 4/5

Tricky spelling changes (c -> qu) and personal 'a' usage.

التحدث 3/5

Requires correct stress on the last syllable and 'r' tap.

الاستماع 2/5

Clear pronunciation makes it easy to hear in medical contexts.

ماذا تتعلّم بعد ذلك

المتطلبات الأساسية

médico medicina enfermo pastilla doctor

تعلّم لاحقاً

recetar prescribir síntoma tratamiento dosis

متقدم

farmacología posología paliativo iatrogenia etiología

قواعد يجب معرفتها

Orthographic change c -> qu

medicar -> mediqué (Preterite), medique (Subjunctive)

Personal 'a' with human objects

Medicar a la paciente.

Reflexive pronouns for self-action

Yo me medico (I medicate myself).

Infinitive as a noun

Medicar no siempre es la solución.

Preposition 'con' for instruments

Medicar con jarabe.

أمثلة حسب المستوى

1

El médico medica al niño.

The doctor medicates the boy.

Uses the personal 'a' because the boy is a person.

2

Mi mamá me medica cuando tengo tos.

My mom medicates me when I have a cough.

'Me' is the direct object pronoun.

3

¿Necesitas medicar al gato?

Do you need to medicate the cat?

Infinitive after another verb 'necesitas'.

4

Él medica a su abuelo todos los días.

He medicates his grandfather every day.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

5

No quiero medicar a mi perro.

I don't want to medicate my dog.

Negative sentence with 'no'.

6

El doctor va a medicar a la paciente.

The doctor is going to medicate the patient.

Future with 'ir a'.

7

Ella medica a las personas enfermas.

She medicates sick people.

Plural direct object.

8

¿Quién medica al bebé?

Who medicates the baby?

Interrogative sentence.

1

Ayer mediqué a mi hermano por su gripe.

Yesterday I medicated my brother for his flu.

Preterite 'yo' form with 'qu' spelling change.

2

¿Tú medicaste al perro esta mañana?

Did you medicate the dog this morning?

Preterite 'tú' form.

3

El veterinario nos dijo cómo medicar al pájaro.

The veterinarian told us how to medicate the bird.

Infinitive used as an object of 'cómo'.

4

Nosotros medicamos a los heridos en el accidente.

We medicated the injured in the accident.

Preterite 'nosotros' form (same as present).

5

Ella no se medicó para el dolor de cabeza.

She didn't medicate herself for the headache.

Reflexive preterite.

6

¿Por qué no medicaste a la gata ayer?

Why didn't you medicate the cat yesterday?

Negative question in the preterite.

7

Los médicos medicaron a mucha gente durante la crisis.

The doctors medicated many people during the crisis.

Preterite 'ellos' form.

8

Fue difícil medicar al caballo.

It was difficult to medicate the horse.

Infinitive as the subject of 'fue'.

1

Si el niño tiene fiebre, el pediatra lo tendrá que medicar.

If the child has a fever, the pediatrician will have to medicate him.

Future 'tener que' with infinitive.

2

Espero que el doctor no me medique con antibióticos.

I hope the doctor doesn't medicate me with antibiotics.

Present subjunctive with 'qu' change.

3

Muchos se medican sin consultar a un profesional.

Many medicate themselves without consulting a professional.

Reflexive present used for general habits.

4

¿Crees que sea bueno medicar a los niños tan pequeños?

Do you think it's good to medicate such young children?

Infinitive after an adjective 'bueno'.

5

El protocolo exige medicar al paciente cada seis horas.

The protocol requires medicating the patient every six hours.

Transitive use with 'a personal'.

6

Si te hubieras sentido peor, te habrían medicado en el hospital.

If you had felt worse, they would have medicated you at the hospital.

Conditional perfect passive.

7

No mediques a nadie sin estar seguro de la dosis.

Don't medicate anyone without being sure of the dose.

Negative imperative (subjunctive) with 'qu'.

8

Ella decidió automedicarse porque no tenía dinero para el médico.

She decided to self-medicate because she had no money for the doctor.

Reflexive infinitive 'automedicarse'.

1

La tendencia a sobremedicar a los ancianos es preocupante.

The tendency to over-medicate the elderly is worrying.

Infinitive with prefix 'sobre-'.

2

Aunque el paciente se resista, es necesario medicarlo por su seguridad.

Even if the patient resists, it is necessary to medicate him for his safety.

Direct object pronoun 'lo' attached to infinitive.

3

Se ha medicado a la población de forma excesiva durante décadas.

The population has been medicated excessively for decades.

Impersonal 'se' with passive sense.

4

Dudo que el comité apruebe medicar a los prisioneros sin su permiso.

I doubt the committee will approve medicating prisoners without their permission.

Subjunctive after 'dudo que'.

5

Si no lo hubieran medicado a tiempo, la infección se habría extendido.

If they hadn't medicated him in time, the infection would have spread.

Past perfect subjunctive.

6

El psiquiatra prefiere no medicar hasta agotar otras opciones.

The psychiatrist prefers not to medicate until other options are exhausted.

Negative infinitive after 'prefiere'.

7

Hay que medicar la zona afectada con una crema tópica.

The affected area must be medicated with a topical cream.

'Medicar' used for topical application.

8

¿A quién vas a medicar con este nuevo fármaco experimental?

Who are you going to medicate with this new experimental drug?

Interrogative with 'a' personal.

1

La bioética cuestiona la legitimidad de medicar a sujetos vulnerables.

Bioethics questions the legitimacy of medicating vulnerable subjects.

Formal academic usage.

2

Resulta imperativo medicar paliativamente en casos de dolor terminal.

It is imperative to medicate palliatively in cases of terminal pain.

Adverbial modification 'paliativamente'.

3

El informe sugiere que se medique de forma más selectiva.

The report suggests medicating more selectively.

Subjunctive in a suggestion.

4

Habiendo medicado al rebaño, el veterinario se retiró de la finca.

Having medicated the herd, the veterinarian left the farm.

Perfect participle 'Habiendo medicado'.

5

No se debe medicar la tristeza como si fuera una patología orgánica.

Sadness should not be medicated as if it were an organic pathology.

Passive 'se' with modal 'debe'.

6

La decisión de medicar o no recae exclusivamente en el facultativo.

The decision to medicate or not lies exclusively with the physician.

Infinitive as a noun phrase.

7

Es probable que la industria presione para medicar nuevas condiciones.

It's likely the industry will lobby to medicate new conditions.

Subjunctive after 'es probable que'.

8

Se procedió a medicar al paciente bajo estrictas medidas de seguridad.

They proceeded to medicate the patient under strict security measures.

Formal 'Se procedió a'.

1

La medicalización de la vida cotidiana nos impele a medicar cualquier atisbo de malestar.

The medicalization of daily life compels us to medicate any hint of discomfort.

High-level sociological context.

2

Sería una negligencia no medicar a un paciente en estado de shock anafiláctico.

It would be negligence not to medicate a patient in anaphylactic shock.

Conditional mood for hypothetical negligence.

3

El debate sobre si medicar la disidencia política ha sido una mancha en la psiquiatría.

The debate over whether to medicate political dissent has been a stain on psychiatry.

Infinitive as part of a complex subject.

4

Apenas medicado, el paciente mostró signos de una reacción adversa fulminante.

Barely medicated, the patient showed signs of a sudden adverse reaction.

Adverbial 'apenas' with past participle.

5

La praxis médica exige no solo medicar, sino comprender la etiología del mal.

Medical praxis requires not only medicating but understanding the etiology of the ailment.

Formal term 'praxis'.

6

¿Hasta qué punto es ético medicar para potenciar el rendimiento cognitivo?

To what extent is it ethical to medicate to enhance cognitive performance?

Philosophical inquiry.

7

El fármaco con el que se pretende medicar al grupo aún está en fase III.

The drug with which they intend to medicate the group is still in phase III.

Relative clause with 'con el que'.

8

Medicar el síntoma sin abordar la raíz es, en esencia, un paliativo temporal.

Medicating the symptom without addressing the root is, in essence, a temporary palliative.

Infinitive phrases as subject and object.

تلازمات شائعة

medicar al paciente
automedicarse sin control
medicar con antibióticos
sobremedicar a los niños
medicar preventivamente
difícil de medicar
proceder a medicar
negarse a medicar
medicar paliativamente
obligar a medicar

العبارات الشائعة

No se medique solo

— A warning not to take medicine without a doctor.

En la farmacia dicen: No se medique solo.

Hay que medicar

— It is necessary to give medicine.

Si la fiebre sube, hay que medicar.

¿Cómo lo vamos a medicar?

— Asking about the treatment plan.

Doctor, ¿cómo lo vamos a medicar?

Medicar por error

— To give the wrong medicine.

Fue un susto cuando lo medicaron por error.

Medicar a tiempo

— To give medicine before it's too late.

Lo importante fue medicar a tiempo.

Sin medicar

— Without having received medicine.

No podemos dejar al paciente sin medicar.

Antes de medicar

— Prior to giving treatment.

Antes de medicar, hay que hacer análisis.

Después de medicar

— Following the treatment.

Después de medicar, el paciente durmió.

Medicar la zona

— To apply medicine to a specific area.

Vamos a medicar la zona de la quemadura.

Medicar al grupo

— To treat a whole group (animals or people).

Tuvieron que medicar al grupo de vacas.

يُخلط عادةً مع

medicar vs meditar

Means to meditate. 'Meditar' is for the mind; 'medicar' is for medicine.

medicar vs medir

Means to measure. Don't confuse 'medir' (size) with 'medicar' (medicine).

medicar vs recetar

Means to prescribe. Use 'recetar' for the paper/order and 'medicar' for the treatment.

تعبيرات اصطلاحية

"medicar el alma"

— To find comfort for emotional pain.

La música ayuda a medicar el alma.

poetic
"medicar con paños calientes"

— To give a temporary or weak solution to a big problem.

Esa ley solo medica el problema con paños calientes.

informal
"medicar la billetera"

— To spend money on health (humorous).

Este mes me tocó medicar la billetera en la farmacia.

slang
"estar medicado hasta las cejas"

— To be heavily under the influence of many medicines.

Pobre hombre, está medicado hasta las cejas.

informal
"medicar el síntoma, no la causa"

— To ignore the root of a problem.

Tu consejo solo medica el síntoma, no la causa.

neutral
"más vale prevenir que medicar"

— Prevention is better than cure (variation).

Come bien, que más vale prevenir que medicar.

proverbial
"medicar a ciegas"

— To treat without knowing the diagnosis.

No podemos seguir medicando a ciegas.

neutral
"medicar el miedo"

— To try to suppress fear with substances.

Mucha gente intenta medicar el miedo al futuro.

literary
"medicar la economía"

— To apply emergency financial measures.

El gobierno intenta medicar la economía con subsidios.

journalistic
"medicar el tiempo"

— To wait for things to improve (rare).

A veces solo queda medicar el tiempo con paciencia.

poetic

سهل الخلط

medicar vs recetar

Both involve medicine and doctors.

Recetar is the act of writing the prescription; medicar is the act of treating with medicine.

El doctor me recetó aspirina, pero mi madre me medicó.

medicar vs curar

Both relate to getting better.

Curar is the result (to be healed); medicar is the method (using drugs).

Medicar no siempre sirve para curar.

medicar vs tratar

Both mean to help a patient.

Tratar is broader (therapy, surgery); medicar is specifically with medicine.

Lo están tratando con terapia, no lo quieren medicar.

medicar vs sanar

Synonyms in a broad sense.

Sanar is more poetic or natural; medicar is more clinical/pharmaceutical.

Prefiero sanar con hierbas que medicar con químicos.

medicar vs dosificar

Both involve giving medicine.

Dosificar is about measuring the amount; medicar is the overall act of giving it.

Primero hay que dosificar y luego medicar.

أنماط الجُمل

A1

[Subject] medica a [Person/Animal].

El doctor medica al niño.

A2

[Subject] mediqué a [Object] ayer.

Yo mediqué a mi perro ayer.

B1

Espero que [Subject] me medique.

Espero que el médico me medique.

B1

No es bueno automedicarse.

No es bueno automedicarse.

B2

Se ha decidido medicar a...

Se ha decidido medicar a los pacientes.

B2

Si [Subject] tuviera [Illness], lo medicarían.

Si tuviera gripe, lo medicarían.

C1

Resulta necesario medicar paliativamente...

Resulta necesario medicar paliativamente el dolor.

C2

La praxis exige no medicar sin...

La praxis exige no medicar sin un diagnóstico certero.

عائلة الكلمة

الأسماء

medicación (medication)
medicamento (medicine)
medicina (medicine/science)
médico (doctor)

الأفعال

medicar (to medicate)
automedicarse (to self-medicate)
sobremedicar (to over-medicate)

الصفات

medicinal (medicinal)
medicamentoso (drug-related)
medicable (treatable with medicine)

مرتبط

fármaco
farmacia
receta
clínica
terapia

كيفية الاستخدام

frequency

Common in health and family contexts.

أخطاء شائعة
  • Yo medicé al gato. Yo mediqué al gato.

    Verbs ending in -car change 'c' to 'qu' in the preterite 'yo' form.

  • El doctor medica el paciente. El doctor medica al paciente.

    You must use the personal 'a' when the direct object is a person.

  • No quiero medicar hoy. No quiero medicarme hoy.

    If you are the one taking the medicine, you must use the reflexive 'me'.

  • El médico lo medicó una receta. El médico le dio una receta.

    You don't 'medicar' a prescription; you 'dar' or 'recetar' it.

  • La gente se medican mucho. La gente se medica mucho.

    'La gente' is a collective noun that is singular in Spanish.

نصائح

The 'QU' rule

Whenever an -ar verb ends in -car, change 'c' to 'qu' before 'e'. This happens in 'mediqué' and 'medique'. It preserves the 'k' sound.

Medicar vs Recetar

Think of 'recetar' as the doctor's pen and 'medicar' as the doctor's medicine. You prescribe (recetar) first, then you medicate (medicar).

Automedicarse

In Spanish-speaking countries, 'No se automedique' is a very common phrase on TV. Learn it as a chunk!

The personal 'a'

Don't forget the 'a' when medicating people: 'Medicar a los niños'. It's a hallmark of correct B1 level Spanish.

Word Family

Learn 'médico', 'medicina', and 'medicar' together. They all share the same root, making them easier to remember.

Stress it right

Always stress the last syllable in the infinitive: me-di-KAR. This makes you sound much more like a native speaker.

Clinical usage

In a hospital, you will hear 'medicación' (the noun) more than 'medicar' (the verb). 'Le cambiaron la medicación'.

Social Debate

Use 'sobremedicar' when discussing social issues like ADHD or elderly care to show a higher level of Spanish (B2+).

Listen for the 'd'

The Spanish 'd' is very soft. If you say it like an English 'd', it will sound too harsh. Practice saying 'me-thi-kar'.

Spelling check

Before writing 'medice', stop! It's always 'medique'. Spanish spelling is very consistent about this.

احفظها

وسيلة تذكّر

Think of 'Medicare' in the US. Medicare is a system that helps people get 'medicados' (medicated).

ربط بصري

Imagine a doctor (médico) holding a car (medicar) full of pills. 'Médico + Car = Medicar'.

Word Web

médico medicina medicamento hospital enfermo pastilla jarabe receta

تحدٍّ

Try to conjugate 'medicar' in the preterite 'yo' form and the present subjunctive 'él' form without looking at a table. (Answers: mediqué, medique).

أصل الكلمة

From the Latin verb 'medicare', which means 'to heal' or 'to cure'.

المعنى الأصلي: To provide medical care or healing.

Romance (Latin root 'medicus' meaning physician).

السياق الثقافي

Be careful when discussing mental health; 'medicar' can be a sensitive topic regarding children or psychiatric patients.

In English, 'to medicate' can sometimes sound cold or clinical. In Spanish, it is the standard term for the act of giving medicine.

'El médico a palos' (Molière, translated/adapted) Common health slogans like 'No se automedique' Medical dramas like 'Hospital Central'

تدرّب في الحياة الواقعية

سياقات واقعية

At the Doctor's

  • ¿Me va a medicar?
  • ¿Con qué lo va a medicar?
  • ¿Es necesario medicar?
  • No quiero medicarme.

At the Pharmacy

  • No se automedique.
  • ¿Cómo debo medicar al niño?
  • Instrucciones para medicar.
  • Medicar cada 8 horas.

Pet Care

  • Medicar al gato es difícil.
  • ¿Cómo medicar a un perro?
  • Gotas para medicar el oído.
  • Medicar con la comida.

Home Care

  • Ya mediqué al abuelo.
  • Te toca medicarte.
  • ¿Quién te medicó?
  • Olvidé medicar al niño.

News/Media

  • Sobremedicar a la población.
  • Medicar la ansiedad.
  • Crisis por automedicarse.
  • Nuevas formas de medicar.

بدايات محادثة

"¿Crees que los médicos tienden a medicar demasiado a los niños hoy en día?"

"¿Alguna vez has tenido que medicar a una mascota difícil?"

"¿Qué opinas de la gente que decide automedicarse sin ir al doctor?"

"¿Cuál es el medicamento más común con el que se suele medicar la gripe en tu país?"

"¿Te resulta fácil o difícil medicarte cuando estás enfermo?"

مواضيع للكتابة اليومية

Describe una vez que tuviste que medicar a alguien o a un animal. ¿Cómo fue la experiencia?

Escribe sobre los peligros de automedicarse basándose en información de internet.

¿Crees que la sociedad moderna intenta medicar la tristeza en lugar de entenderla?

Si fueras médico, ¿qué criterios usarías para decidir cuándo medicar a un paciente?

Reflexiona sobre cómo ha cambiado la forma de medicar enfermedades desde la época de tus abuelos.

الأسئلة الشائعة

10 أسئلة

No, that is redundant. You 'medicar a alguien' (medicate someone) 'con una medicina' (with a medicine).

Medicar is the general act (usually by a professional), while automedicarse is when you give medicine to yourself without professional advice.

Sí, es muy común en veterinaria. 'Hay que medicar al perro por los parásitos'.

Se dice 'sobremedicar'. Es un error común decir 'medicar demasiado', aunque se entiende.

Casi. Sigue el patrón de los verbos terminados en -car, con el cambio de 'c' a 'qu' en el preterite 'yo' y el presente subjuntivo.

Sí, 'medicar una zona' puede referirse a aplicar una crema medicinal localmente.

No es muy común, pero se puede usar en literatura como 'medicar la tristeza', significando buscar un remedio para ella.

Significa estar bajo los efectos de una medicina o estar siguiendo un tratamiento médico.

Administrar es el acto físico de dar la dosis (poner la inyección, dar la pastilla). Medicar es el concepto general de tratamiento.

No, se medica a seres vivos. Para problemas se dice 'poner remedio' o 'solucionar'.

اختبر نفسك 180 أسئلة

writing

Write a simple sentence: 'The doctor medicates the boy.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write in the past: 'I medicated my cat yesterday.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write a warning: 'Don't self-medicate without a doctor.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write a sentence about over-medicating children.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Discuss the ethics of medicating terminal patients briefly.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate: 'My mom medicates me.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate: 'We medicated the patients.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate: 'I hope the doctor medicates you.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate: 'They would have medicated him.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate: 'The tendency to medicate sadness.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write: 'Who medicates the baby?'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write: 'Did you medicate the dog?'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write: 'I don't want to medicate myself.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write: 'It is necessary to medicate the area.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Write: 'Having medicated the herd...'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate: 'He medicates the grandfather.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate: 'They medicated many people.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate: 'Don't medicate the child.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate: 'The doctor decided to medicate him.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
writing

Translate: 'The bioethics of medicating.'

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say: 'El médico medica al niño.'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say: 'Yo mediqué a mi perro ayer.'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say: 'No es bueno automedicarse.'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say: 'Hay que medicar la zona afectada.'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say: 'Es necesario medicar paliativamente.'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say: 'Mi mamá me medica.'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say: '¿Tú medicaste al gato?'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say: 'Espero que no me mediquen.'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say: 'Se debe medicar con cuidado.'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say: 'No mediques la tristeza.'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say: '¿Quién medica al bebé?'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say: 'Nosotros medicamos a los heridos.'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say: 'No mediques sin receta.'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say: 'Tuvieron que medicarlo.'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say: 'Habiendo medicado al paciente...'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say: 'Yo medico al abuelo.'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say: 'Ella se medicó ayer.'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say: '¿Quieres automedicarte?'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say: 'Es un error sobremedicar.'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
speaking

Say: 'La bioética de medicar.'

Read this aloud:

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen and identify the verb: 'El doctor medica al niño.'

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen and identify the tense: 'Yo mediqué a mi gato.'

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen and identify the reflexive: 'Mucha gente se medica sola.'

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen for the prefix: 'No debemos sobremedicar a los niños.'

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen for the adverb: 'Hay que medicar paliativamente.'

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen: '¿Quién medica al bebé?' Is it a question?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen: 'Medicamos a los heridos.' Who was medicated?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen: 'No mediques sin receta.' What is forbidden?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen: 'Fue medicado a tiempo.' Was it late?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen: 'Medicalización de la vida.' What is the concept?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen: 'María medica al gato.' Who is Maria medicating?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen: '¿Medicaste al perro?' Who is being asked?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen: 'Espero que te mediquen.' What mood is used?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen: 'Medicar la zona.' Where is the medicine applied?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
listening

Listen: 'Habiendo medicado...' What form is this?

صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:
صحيح! ليس تمامًا. الإجابة الصحيحة:

/ 180 correct

Perfect score!

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