noun

el sanatorio

sanatorium

Definition & meaning

A sanatorio is an institution or establishment designed for the treatment of people suffering from chronic diseases, particularly those requiring long-term care, recovery, or isolation.

There are two primary contexts for this term:

  1. Medical facility: Traditionally used to describe hospitals specialized in treating long-term illnesses, such as tuberculosis or mental health conditions, in environments that favor rest and recovery.
  2. Modern usage: In many Spanish-speaking regions, it is used synonymously with a private hospital or a medical clinic where patients go for general medical procedures, surgeries, or maternity services.

Grammar & Word origin

The word is a masculine noun. It is derived from the Latin word sanare, which means "to heal" or "to cure," combined with the suffix -torio, which denotes a place or location where an activity happens (similar to "laboratory" or "dormitory").

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

  • Hospital
  • Clínica
  • Preventorio
  • Centro de salud
  • Dispensario

Antonyms There are no direct antonyms for this word, as it describes a specific type of infrastructure.

Make “sanatorio” part of your vocabulary.

Build your Spanish vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.

Examples

Los pacientes descansaban en el sanatorio tras sus tratamientos.noun

The patients were resting in the sanatorium after their treatments.

Keep exploring Spanish

Learn words from the content you love.

Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).