cáncer

cancer

noun KAHN-sehr Rare

Origin: From Latin cancer (crab), originally a medical term for a spreading tumour.

Usage Note

Cáncer retains the accent in the plural cánceres to preserve the stress on the first syllable; without it the stress would shift to the second. In astrology, Cáncer (always capitalised) is the zodiac sign Cancer. The medical sense dominates in everyday speech.

Examples

"El médico detectó un cáncer temprano."

Natural Translation

The doctor detected an early cancer.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Spain vs Latin American Spanish: Key Differences

Spain and Latin American Spanish are fully mutually intelligible. Compare vosotros vs ustedes, coche vs carro, the 'th' sound, and learn which one to study.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

How to Respond to ¿Cómo Estás? (Not Just Bien)

Respond to ¿cómo estás? like a native: add gracias, bounce back ¿y tú?, and pick a reply by mood — bien, no me quejo, más o menos, or ahí voy.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Preterite vs. Imperfect: Spanish Past Tense Made Easy

Preterite vs. imperfect: use the preterite for finished events, the imperfect for ongoing scenery. A trigger-word cheat sheet, flowchart, and examples.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Mexican Spanish Slang Every Traveler Should Know

Mexican Spanish slang decoded for travelers: what güey, mande, órale, and ahorita really mean, who you can safely say them to, and how rude each one is.

June 9, 2026 6 min read