On the examination table today are another two similar-looking Spanish words baring their uses and differences. These are veterinario (masculine) and veterinaria (feminine).
Let’s start with veterinario (masculine), whose pronunciation you can listen to here:
Un veterinario is a man who is qualified and authorized to practise veterinary medicine, treating animals and recommending care for them – a veterinary surgeon or vet in British English or a veterinarian in American English:
Un veterinario revisa un koala macho herido.
A veterinary surgeon or vet or veterinarian is examining an injured male koala.
Carmen lo lleva a un hospital de animales donde el veterinario explica que tiene suerte de estar vivo.
Carmen takes him to an animal hospital where the veterinary surgeon or vet or veterinarian explains that he’s lucky to be alive.
Los veterinarios recomiendan lavarse las manos con agua y jabón después de tocar animales.
Veterinary surgeons or Vets or Veterinarians recommend washing one’s hands with soap and water after touching animals.
Note that, as with other masculine nouns used in the plural referring to people, los veterinarios can refer either to male veterinary surgeons only or to a combination of male and female ones.
Moving on to veterinaria (feminine), you can listen to its pronunciation here:
You probably won’t be surprised that una veterinaria is a woman qualified and authorized to practise veterinary medicine – a veterinary surgeon or vet in British English or a veterinarian in American English:
Fue una veterinaria estadounidense conocida por su trabajo en medicina felina.
She was an American veterinary surgeon or vet or veterinarian known for her work in feline medicine.
Cuando era niña, soñaba con ser veterinaria.
When she was a child, she dreamed of being a veterinary surgeon or vet or veterinarian.
Veterinaria (feminine) is also the branch of medicine concerned with the health of animals and the treatment and prevention of diseases that affect them – veterinary medicine or veterinary science:
La envían a Francia para estudiar veterinaria.
She is sent to France to study veterinary medicine or veterinary science.
En el año 2012 se licenció en veterinaria por la Universidad de Zaragoza.
In 2012 he graduated in veterinary medicine or veterinary science from the University of Zaragoza.
Veterinario (together with its inflected forms veterinaria, veterinarios and veterinarias) is also an adjective describing people and things connected with veterinary medicine – veterinary:
Llevó al perro a un hospital veterinario.
He took the dog to a veterinary hospital.
Trabaja como enfermera veterinaria.
She’s working as a veterinary nurse
Produce fármacos veterinarios.
It makes veterinary medicines.
Publicó 14 libros, así como artículos en diversas revistas veterinarias.
He published 14 books as well as articles in various veterinary journals.
QUIZ TIME
In the following sentences, a word for a medical professional has been omitted. See if you can complete the gaps.
- La …………… le recetó algunos medicamentos, incluyendo codeína.
- Hay que cepillarse los dientes durante los dos minutos que recomiendan los …………….
- Cuando la …………… le quita un vendaje, suelta un grito.
- El …………… asistirá al animal cuando padezca algún problema de salud.
ANSWERS
La médica le recetó algunos medicamentos, incluyendo codeína.
The doctor prescribed some medicines for him, including codeine.
Hay que cepillarse los dientes durante los dos minutos que recomiendan los dentistas.
You need to brush your teeth for the two minutes dentists recommend.
Cuando la enfermera le quita el vendaje, suelta un grito.
When the nurse takes off his bandage, he lets out a cry.
El veterinario asistirá al animal cuando padezca algún problema de salud.
The veterinary surgeon or veterinarian will treat the animal when it has any health problems.
To explore the differences in usage between some more similar-looking Spanish words, come back next week.
