US Medical Term · emergency
Emergency Room
Sala de emergencias
Also: Urgencias (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Emergency Room |
| Spanish (Español) | Sala de emergencias |
| Chinese (中文) | 急診室 |
| Korean (한국어) | 응급실 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Phòng cấp cứu |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Silid ng emerhensiya |
| Portuguese (Português) | Pronto-socorro |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ห้องฉุกเฉิน |
| Japanese (日本語) | 救急救命室 |
What it means
The emergency room (ER), also called the emergency department (ED), is the area of a hospital that treats patients with urgent or life-threatening conditions at any hour of the day or night. You do not need an appointment to be seen. Upon arrival, a nurse will perform a quick triage assessment to determine how quickly you need care. Conditions such as chest pain, stroke symptoms, difficulty breathing, or serious injuries should be treated in the ER. Non-life-threatening issues may be redirected to an urgent care clinic. Wait times vary depending on severity of other patients' conditions.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I need to go to the emergency room right away.
Necesito ir a la sala de emergencias de inmediato.
How long is the wait in the emergency room?
¿Cuánto tiempo hay que esperar en la sala de emergencias?
My child has a high fever; should we go to the emergency room?
Mi hijo tiene fiebre alta; ¿debemos ir a la sala de emergencias?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026