neurálgico

neuralgic, critical

adjective neh-oo-RAHL-hee-koh Rare

Usage Note

Neurálgico has a medical sense (relating to neuralgia) but its everyday Spanish usage is almost always figurative: un punto neurálgico means a key strategic point or bottleneck — equivalent to English 'nerve centre'. Learners should recognise that the figurative use is far more frequent than the medical one in newspapers and political discourse.

Examples

"El aeropuerto es un punto neurálgico de la economía regional."

Natural Translation

The airport is a critical hub for the regional economy.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

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

Spanish Filler Words: 15 Ways to Sound Natural

Spanish filler words like pues, o sea, and vale make you sound natural, not robotic. Learn 15 muletillas sorted by job, by region, and when not to use them.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

How to Roll Your Rs in Spanish (Even If You Can't Yet)

Roll your Rs in Spanish by building from the butter sound you already make, then adding airflow. A step-by-step method, minimal pairs, and self-check drills.

June 3, 2026 7 min read

SpanishNow

How to Say "You" in Spanish: Tú, Usted, Vos & Vosotros

Spanish has five words for "you": tú, usted, vos, vosotros, and ustedes. Learn which to use by who you're talking to and where — plus the verb endings.

June 3, 2026 6 min read