US Medical Term · tests
EKG / ECG (Electrocardiogram)
Electrocardiograma (ECG/EKG)
What it means
An electrocardiogram, also called an EKG or ECG, is a simple, painless test that records the electrical signals the heart makes when it beats. EKG and ECG are two abbreviations for the same test, not two different tests. A provider places several electrodes (small sensors that stick to the skin) on the arms, legs, and chest, and the test takes only a few minutes. The recording shows how fast the heart is beating and whether its rhythm is steady or irregular, and the test does not send any electricity into the body.
EKG / ECG (Electrocardiogram) in Spanish
- Spanish term
- Electrocardiograma (ECG/EKG)
- Gender and article
- masculine: el electrocardiograma (plural: los electrocardiogramas)
- Pronunciation
- eh-lehk-troh-kar-dyoh-GRAH-mah
| Other Spanish terms | Where it is used | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ECG | General | The abbreviation MedlinePlus en español uses in its own heading and text for electrocardiograma. |
| EKG | General | Listed by MedlinePlus en español under 'Nombres alternativos' for the same test. |
| electro | General | Colloquial shortened form recorded by the RAE dictionary (masculine: el electro); no regional mark. |
In Spanish the test is written out as electrocardiograma. MedlinePlus en español abbreviates it ECG and lists EKG among its alternative names; the English MedlinePlus page does the reverse, using EKG throughout and listing "ECG test" as another name. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute describes the test as "also called an ECG or EKG." Either abbreviation on a Spanish-language order, report, or bill refers to the same test.
The Real Academia Española dictionary records electrocardiograma as a masculine noun, so it takes el and un even though it ends in -a. The same dictionary lists electro as a colloquial shortening of the full word.
Phrases for an appointment
What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:
| Who | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| Clinician | I am going to order an EKG to check your heart rhythm. | Voy a pedirle un electrocardiograma para revisar el ritmo de su corazón. |
| Patient | Is an EKG the same thing as an ECG? | ¿Un EKG es lo mismo que un ECG? |
| Patient | I have had chest pain and my heart feels like it is racing. | He tenido dolor de pecho y siento que el corazón me late muy rápido. |
| Clinician | Please lie down on the exam table and stay very still. | Por favor, acuéstese en la camilla y quédese sin moverse. |
| Clinician | I am going to place these electrodes on your chest, arms, and legs. | Le voy a colocar estos electrodos en el pecho, los brazos y las piernas. |
| Patient | Will I feel anything during the test? | ¿Voy a sentir algo durante la prueba? |
| Patient | Do I need to stop taking any of my medicines before the EKG? | ¿Tengo que dejar de tomar alguno de mis medicamentos antes del electrocardiograma? |
| Patient | When will I get the results, and who will explain them to me? | ¿Cuándo me darán los resultados y quién me los va a explicar? |
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | EKG / ECG (Electrocardiogram) |
| Spanish (Español) | Electrocardiograma (ECG/EKG) |
| Chinese (中文) | 心電圖 |
| Korean (한국어) | 심전도 (EKG/ECG) |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Điện tâm đồ (ECG) |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | EKG / ECG |
| Portuguese (Português) | Eletrocardiograma (ECG) |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | คลื่นไฟฟ้าหัวใจ (EKG) |
| Japanese (日本語) | 心電図（ECG） |
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Your right to an interpreter in the United States
If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.
You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»
More terms: Heart and circulation
All terms in this area: Heart and circulation — Corazón y circulación
Sources
- Electrocardiogram: MedlinePlus Medical Test — MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Electrocardiograma: Prueba de laboratorio de MedlinePlus — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina de EE. UU.
- Heart Tests — National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), NIH
- electrocardiograma — Diccionario de la lengua española — Real Academia Española (RAE) – ASALE
- electro — Diccionario de la lengua española — Real Academia Española (RAE) – ASALE
- Limited English Proficiency (LEP): Your Right to Language Assistance Services — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.
Last reviewed: October 1, 2026