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B1 noun 7 min read

apoplejía

Examples apoplejía in 30 Seconds
Explanation apoplejía in your Level:
At the A1 level, you don't need to use 'apoplejía' in your own speaking, but it is good to recognize it as a word for a very serious illness of the brain. You can think of it as 'una enfermedad muy grave del cerebro.' If you see this word in a story, it usually means someone got sick very fast and had to go to the hospital. It is a feminine word, so we say 'la apoplejía.' For now, just remember it is a medical word for a stroke. It is not a common word for beginners to say, but you might see it in simple news titles or health posters. Most A1 students would just say 'está muy enfermo' (he is very sick) instead of using this specific medical term.
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At the A2 level, you should know that 'apoplejía' is a noun used to describe a stroke. You might encounter it when talking about family history or health. It is important to know that it is paired with the verb 'sufrir' (to suffer). For example: 'Mi abuelo sufrió una apoplejía.' You should also know it is a formal word. In everyday life, people might say 'derrame cerebral' instead. At this level, you can start to recognize the difference between a heart attack (infarto) and a stroke (apoplejía). Remember that it is always 'la apoplejía' because it ends in 'a'. It is a useful word to know if you are reading about the lives of famous people in Spanish-speaking history.
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At the B1 level, you are expected to understand and use 'apoplejía' in appropriate contexts, such as discussing health issues or reading news reports. You should be familiar with common adjectives that go with it, like 'fulminante' (sudden/fatal) or 'cerebral.' You should also understand that while 'apoplejía' is perfectly correct, 'ictus' is the more modern medical term used in Spain. You can use it to describe a sudden medical event: 'Le dio una apoplejía mientras caminaba.' This level requires you to understand the gravity of the word and use it with the correct prepositions, such as 'consecuencias de la apoplejía.' You should also be able to distinguish it from 'infarto' and 'desmayo' (fainting).
At the B2 level, you should have a firm grasp of 'apoplejía' and its synonyms like 'accidente cerebrovascular' (ACV). you should be able to discuss the causes and prevention of a stroke using this vocabulary. You should also recognize its use in literature and more formal journalistic writing. At this level, you should understand that 'apoplejía' can sometimes be used metaphorically in literature to describe a sudden, overwhelming shock, although this is less common than its medical use. You should also be aware of the regional preferences between 'ictus', 'derrame', and 'apoplejía'. Your ability to use the word in complex sentences, such as 'La intervención rápida es crucial para minimizar los daños de una apoplejía,' shows a high level of proficiency.
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At the C1 level, you should understand the historical and etymological nuances of 'apoplejía.' You know it comes from the Greek word for 'striking down' and carries a certain dramatic weight. You can use it fluently in academic or medical discussions, or when analyzing classical literature. You are aware that 'apoplejía' is often used in older texts to describe what we now call a stroke, and you can explain this evolution of terminology. You should also be comfortable using related terms like 'apoplético' (apoplectic) in a medical sense, and you understand that in Spanish, this doesn't usually mean 'angry' as it does in English. Your use of the word is precise, and you can discuss the subtle differences in register between 'apoplejía,' 'ictus,' and 'ACV' with ease.
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At the C2 level, you possess a native-like understanding of 'apoplejía.' You can distinguish between its use in historical medical treatises and modern clinical practice. You might use it in a sophisticated literary analysis to discuss how a character's 'apoplejía' serves as a turning point in a narrative. You are also aware of very specific medical sub-terms like 'apoplejía pituitaria' (pituitary apoplexy). You can navigate the most formal registers of the Spanish language where this word is preferred over more common alternatives. You understand the cultural impact of the term in Spanish-speaking societies and can use it to evoke a specific tone of gravity and traditionalism in your writing and speaking.
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Examples

apoplejía in 30 Seconds

  • Apoplejía is the formal Spanish word for a stroke, representing a sudden medical emergency where brain function is lost due to blood flow issues.
  • It is a feminine noun (la apoplejía) and is often associated with the verbs sufrir (to suffer) or darle (to hit/give someone).
  • While 'ictus' is more common in modern Spanish medicine, 'apoplejía' remains widely understood and frequently appears in literature and formal news.
  • The word carries a tone of gravity and suddenness, emphasizing the severe impact of the condition on health and life.
The term apoplejía refers to a sudden loss of consciousness or neurological function caused by the rupture or blockage of a blood vessel in the brain, more commonly known in English as a stroke. Historically, the word carries a weight of suddenness and severity, derived from the Greek 'apoplēxia,' meaning 'to strike down.' In contemporary Spanish, while medical professionals often prefer the terms ictus or accidente cerebrovascular (ACV), the word apoplejía remains deeply rooted in the collective vocabulary, especially when discussing the condition in a more traditional, literary, or dramatic context. It describes a moment where life is interrupted by a physical 'blow' to the brain's circuitry.
Medical Context
In clinical settings, it specifically denotes the hemorrhagic or ischemic event that leads to paralysis or cognitive impairment.

El abuelo tuvo que ser hospitalizado tras sufrir una apoplejía fulminante que le afectó el habla.

Understanding apoplejía requires recognizing its gravity; it is never used lightly. It implies a significant medical emergency that requires immediate intervention. In many Spanish-speaking cultures, there is a historical fear associated with this word because, before modern medicine, an apoplejía was often seen as an inescapable fate.
Literary Usage
Authors often use the word to symbolize a sudden collapse of power or health in a character, emphasizing the fragility of human existence.

La noticia de la traición le causó tal impresión que casi le da una apoplejía.

Modern Nuance
While 'ictus' is the current medical standard in Spain, 'apoplejía' is still widely recognized across Latin America in both formal and informal speech.

La prevención es clave para evitar una apoplejía en la vejez.

El médico explicó que la apoplejía fue causada por una obstrucción arterial.

Afortunadamente, sobrevivió a la apoplejía sin secuelas graves.

Using apoplejía correctly involves pairing it with specific verbs that denote 'suffering' or 'experiencing.' The most common verb is sufrir (to suffer), but you will also hear padecer (to endure/suffer from) or the more colloquial darle (a alguien) (to give/hit someone). For example, 'Le dio una apoplejía' means 'He/she had a stroke.' Because it is a feminine noun, you must always use feminine articles (la, una) and adjectives (fulminante, cerebral, súbita).
Common Verbs
Sufrir, padecer, causar, provocar, prevenir, tratar, diagnosticar.

Es vital reconocer los síntomas antes de que ocurra una apoplejía.

When describing the aftermath, you might talk about the 'secuelas de la apoplejía' (consequences/after-effects). This is a formal way to describe physical or mental changes post-stroke.
Adjective Pairings
Fulminante (sudden/deadly), cerebral (brain-related), isquémica (ischemic), hemorrágica (hemorrhagic).

La apoplejía isquémica es la más común entre los pacientes adultos.

Syntactic Patterns
'Debido a una apoplejía...', 'Tras la apoplejía...', 'Riesgo de apoplejía'.

El riesgo de apoplejía aumenta con la presión arterial alta.

Después de su apoplejía, el paciente necesitó terapia del lenguaje.

No todas las apoplejías presentan los mismos síntomas iniciales.

You are most likely to encounter apoplejía in four primary contexts: medical reports, news broadcasts, classical literature, and conversations with older generations. In a hospital, a neurologist might use it when explaining a diagnosis to a family, though they might switch to 'ictus' for precision. In the news, when a famous elderly figure passes away or falls ill, the reporter might say, 'Sufrió una apoplejía fulminante.' This adds a layer of solemnity to the report.
Media Usage
Used in obituaries or health updates of public figures to describe a stroke with a more formal tone.

El boletín informativo confirmó que el actor falleció de una apoplejía.

In literature, especially from the 19th and early 20th centuries, apoplejía is the standard term for a sudden, often fatal, brain event. Reading authors like Galdós or Pardo Bazán will expose you to this word frequently.
Literature
Often used to describe a sudden turn of health in a character, sometimes as a result of intense emotion.

En la novela, el villano muere de una apoplejía tras perder su fortuna.

Generational Use
Older Spanish speakers are more likely to use 'apoplejía' than younger generations, who might use 'derrame'.

Mi abuela siempre decía que el tío abuelo murió de una apoplejía en su sillón.

El documental sobre medicina antigua mencionaba la apoplejía como un mal misterioso.

Los paramédicos sospecharon de una apoplejía al ver la parálisis facial del hombre.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make is assuming apoplejía is the only word for 'stroke.' While correct, it is often more formal than necessary. Using 'ictus' in Spain or 'derrame cerebral' in Latin America is often more natural in casual conversation. Another mistake is confusing it with infarto. While both involve blood flow issues, infarto usually refers to the heart (infarto de miocardio) unless specified as 'infarto cerebral.'
Confusion with Infarto
Don't say 'apoplejía' if you mean a heart attack. Use 'infarto' or 'ataque al corazón' instead.

Mucha gente confunde una apoplejía con un simple desmayo, lo cual es peligroso.

Learners also sometimes use the word to describe 'getting very angry' because in English, 'apoplectic' can mean furious. In Spanish, apoplejía is almost strictly medical. To say someone is 'apoplectic with rage,' you would say 'está que echa chispas' or 'está furioso,' not that they have an apoplejía.
False Cognate Alert
English 'apoplectic' (furious) does not translate directly to 'apoplético' in common Spanish; the latter remains medical.

No digas que tiene una apoplejía solo porque está enfadado.

Gender Errors
Avoid saying 'un apoplejía'. It is always 'la apoplejía'.

La apoplejía es una condición grave, no un estado de ánimo.

Es un error común pensar que la apoplejía solo afecta a los ancianos.

Confundir apoplejía con epilepsia es otro error frecuente en estudiantes iniciales.

Spanish has several terms that overlap with apoplejía. Understanding the nuances between them will make your Spanish sound more precise and natural. The most common synonym is ictus, which is the preferred medical term in Spain. In Latin America, you will frequently hear derrame cerebral (literally 'brain spill/leakage'), which specifically refers to a hemorrhagic stroke but is often used as a general term for any stroke.
Ictus vs. Apoplejía
'Ictus' is modern and clinical; 'apoplejía' is more traditional and formal.

El neurólogo prefiere el término ictus, aunque la familia use apoplejía.

Another alternative is accidente cerebrovascular (ACV). This is the technical acronym you will see on medical charts and health brochures. It is the most accurate term scientifically.
Derrame Cerebral
Literally 'brain spill,' very common in everyday speech across the Americas.

Lo que antes llamaban apoplejía, hoy se diagnostica como ACV.

Infarto Cerebral
Specifically refers to the death of brain tissue due to lack of blood (ischemia).

Una apoplejía puede ser en realidad un infarto cerebral isquémico.

La apoplejía es un término paraguas que abarca varios tipos de lesiones cerebrales.

Comparado con 'soponcio' (a fainting spell), una apoplejía es infinitamente más seria.

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Examples by Level

1

La apoplejía es una enfermedad grave.

Stroke is a serious illness.

Feminine noun with 'la'.

2

Mi abuelo está en el hospital por una apoplejía.

My grandfather is in the hospital because of a stroke.

Use 'por' to indicate cause.

3

Es importante ir al médico rápido.

It is important to go to the doctor quickly.

Adverb 'rápido' modifying the action.

4

La apoplejía afecta al cerebro.

Stroke affects the brain.

Verb 'afectar' followed by 'a'.

5

Él no puede hablar bien ahora.

He cannot speak well now.

Modal verb 'poder' + infinitive.

6

La familia está preocupada.

The family is worried.

Adjective 'preocupada' matches feminine 'familia'.

7

Una apoplejía es un susto grande.

A stroke is a big scare.

Noun 'susto' means scare/fright.

8

La salud es lo más importante.

Health is the most important thing.

Superlative 'lo más importante'.

1

Muchos ancianos sufren de apoplejía.

Many elderly people suffer from stroke.

Verb 'sufrir de' indicates a condition.

2

La apoplejía le dio de repente.

The stroke hit him/her suddenly.

Indirect object pronoun 'le'.

3

El médico explicó qué es una apoplejía.

The doctor explained what a stroke is.

Indirect question with 'qué'.

4

Después de la apoplejía, él necesita descansar.

After the stroke, he needs to rest.

Preposition 'después de'.

5

Hay que comer sano para evitar una apoplejía.

One must eat healthy to avoid a stroke.

'Hay que' expresses necessity.

6

La apoplejía puede causar parálisis.

Stroke can cause paralysis.

Noun 'parálisis' is feminine.

7

Su abuela sobrevivió a una apoplejía.

His/her grandmother survived a stroke.

Verb 'sobrevivir a'.

8

No sabía que la apoplejía era tan común.

I didn't know stroke was so common.

Imperfect tense 'sabía' and 'era'.

1

La apoplejía fulminante le quitó la vida al rey.

The sudden stroke took the king's life.

Adjective 'fulminante' means sudden and deadly.

2

Es vital reconocer los síntomas de la apoplejía a tiempo.

It is vital to recognize the symptoms of a stroke in time.

Infinitive 'reconocer' as subject.

3

La rehabilitación tras una apoplejía es un proceso largo.

Rehabilitation after a stroke is a long process.

Preposition 'tras' means after.

4

Un estilo de vida sedentario aumenta el riesgo de apoplejía.

A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of stroke.

Adjective 'sedentario' matches 'estilo'.

5

El paciente perdió el habla debido a la apoplejía.

The patient lost his speech due to the stroke.

'Debido a' means due to.

6

En el pasado, la apoplejía no tenía tratamiento efectivo.

In the past, stroke had no effective treatment.

Negative 'no' before the verb.

7

La presión alta es la causa principal de la apoplejía.

High pressure is the main cause of stroke.

Adjective 'principal' follows the noun.

8

Si sientes debilidad, podría ser una apoplejía.

If you feel weakness, it could be a stroke.

Conditional 'podría' for possibility.

1

La apoplejía isquémica ocurre cuando un coágulo bloquea una arteria.

Ischemic stroke occurs when a clot blocks an artery.

Technical adjective 'isquémica'.

2

A pesar de la gravedad de la apoplejía, se recuperó por completo.

Despite the severity of the stroke, he recovered completely.

'A pesar de' means despite.

3

Los médicos temían que sufriera otra apoplejía pronto.

The doctors feared that he might suffer another stroke soon.

Subjunctive 'sufriera' after a verb of emotion.

4

La apoplejía dejó secuelas permanentes en su movilidad.

The stroke left permanent consequences on his mobility.

Noun 'secuelas' refers to after-effects.

5

Se debe actuar con rapidez ante cualquier indicio de apoplejía.

One must act quickly at any sign of a stroke.

Impersonal 'se' construction.

6

El tabaquismo es un factor de riesgo determinante para la apoplejía.

Smoking is a determining risk factor for stroke.

Noun 'tabaquismo' means smoking habit.

7

La investigación sobre la apoplejía ha avanzado mucho recientemente.

Research on stroke has advanced a lot recently.

Present perfect 'ha avanzado'.

8

La apoplejía hemorrágica es menos común pero más peligrosa.

Hemorrhagic stroke is less common but more dangerous.

Comparative 'menos... pero más...'.

1

La apoplejía, en su acepción clásica, denota un ataque súbito e irreversible.

Stroke, in its classical sense, denotes a sudden and irreversible attack.

Noun 'acepción' means meaning/definition.

2

El autor utiliza la apoplejía del protagonista como metáfora de la caída del imperio.

The author uses the protagonist's stroke as a metaphor for the fall of the empire.

Metaphorical usage in literary analysis.

3

No debemos subestimar la carga emocional que conlleva una apoplejía familiar.

We must not underestimate the emotional burden that a family stroke entails.

Verb 'conllevar' means to entail/carry with it.

4

La apoplejía pituitaria requiere una intervención neuroquirúrgica de urgencia.

Pituitary apoplexy requires urgent neurosurgical intervention.

Highly specific medical terminology.

5

Aquel diagnóstico de apoplejía cambió el rumbo de su carrera política.

That stroke diagnosis changed the course of his political career.

Demonstrative adjective 'aquel' for something distant in time.

6

La prevención primaria de la apoplejía se basa en el control de la hipertensión.

Primary prevention of stroke is based on the control of hypertension.

Passive construction 'se basa en'.

7

Pese a los avances, la apoplejía sigue siendo una de las principales causas de mortalidad.

Despite advances, stroke remains one of the leading causes of mortality.

'Pese a' is a formal synonym for 'a pesar de'.

8

La sintomatología de la apoplejía varía según la región cerebral afectada.

The symptomatology of stroke varies according to the affected brain region.

Noun 'sintomatología' is collective.

1

La fenomenología de la apoplejía ha sido objeto de estudio desde la época de Hipócrates.

The phenomenology of stroke has been a subject of study since the time of Hippocrates.

Academic term 'fenomenología'.

2

Su prosa, densa y barroca, parece sufrir una suerte de apoplejía sintáctica.

His prose, dense and baroque, seems to suffer a sort of syntactic apoplexy.

Metaphorical use in high-level literary criticism.

3

La apoplejía fulminante que segó su vida dejó al país en un estado de estupor.

The sudden stroke that cut his life short left the country in a state of stupor.

Verb 'segar' (to reap/cut short) used figuratively.

4

Resulta imperativo discernir entre una apoplejía isquémica y una hemorrágica en los primeros minutos.

It is imperative to discern between an ischemic and a hemorrhagic stroke in the first few minutes.

'Resulta imperativo' is a formal way to say 'it is necessary'.

5

La etiología de la apoplejía en pacientes jóvenes suele ser multifactorial y compleja.

The etiology of stroke in young patients tends to be multifactorial and complex.

Medical term 'etiología' (cause/origin).

6

La apoplejía no solo cercena la autonomía física, sino que fractura la identidad del individuo.

Stroke not only curtails physical autonomy but also fractures the individual's identity.

Correlative conjunction 'no solo... sino que...'.

7

En el tratado médico del siglo XVIII, la apoplejía se describía como un desequilibrio de humores.

In the 18th-century medical treatise, stroke was described as an imbalance of humors.

Historical context with 'se describía'.

8

La resiliencia mostrada por los supervivientes de apoplejía es un testimonio de la plasticidad cerebral.

The resilience shown by stroke survivors is a testament to brain plasticity.

Abstract noun 'resiliencia'.

Common Collocations

Sufrir una apoplejía
Apoplejía fulminante
Riesgo de apoplejía
Síntomas de apoplejía
Secuelas de la apoplejía
Prevenir la apoplejía
Apoplejía cerebral
Causar una apoplejía
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