enanismo
Lemma Details
Translation: dwarfism; short stature; stunted growth
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: Derived from 'enano' (dwarf) + '-ismo' (suffix indicating a condition or state). The root 'enano' comes from Latin 'nanus', which was borrowed from Ancient Greek 'νάνος' (nanos), meaning 'dwarf'. The English cognate 'nanism' is a medical term also referring to dwarfism, though it's less commonly used than 'dwarfism'. The suffix '-ismo' parallels English '-ism', both indicating a condition or characteristic.
Commonality: 30%
Guessability: 50%
Register: medical, neutral
Example Usage
El enanismo puede ser causado por factores genéticos o hormonales.
Dwarfism can be caused by genetic or hormonal factors.
Hay diferentes tipos de enanismo, siendo la acondroplasia el más común.
There are different types of dwarfism, with achondroplasia being the most common.
El actor tiene enanismo pero eso no ha limitado su carrera.
The actor has dwarfism but that hasn't limited his career.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'enano' (dwarf) + '-ismo' (condition) = 'the condition of being a dwarf'
- Connect it to English 'nanism' (medical term for dwarfism) to remember its meaning
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, there has been a shift toward more respectful terminology when referring to people with dwarfism. While 'enanismo' is the medical term, 'persona de talla baja' (person of short stature) is often preferred in non-medical contexts as it's considered more respectful.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'nanismo' is sometimes used as a synonym for 'enanismo', 'enanismo' is the more common and standard term in Spanish for dwarfism. 'Nanismo' comes directly from the Greek root 'nanos'.
Confused word:
El nanismo es un término menos común para referirse a esta condición.
Nanism is a less common term to refer to this condition.
Notes: In medical contexts, both terms might be encountered, but 'enanismo' is more widely recognized and used.
Mnemonic: 'Enanismo' starts with 'e' for 'everyday' term, while 'nanismo' is the 'niche' variant.