US Medical Term · conditions
Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)
Epicondilitis Lateral (Codo de Tenista)
Also: Codo de Tenista (regional variant)
What it means
Tennis elbow is soreness or pain on the outside (lateral) side of the upper arm near the elbow. When the forearm muscles that attach to the bone on the outside of the elbow are used over and over again, small tears may develop in the tendon, leading to irritation and pain where the tendon is attached to the bone. The injury is common in people who play a lot of tennis or other racket sports, but any activity that involves repetitive twisting of the wrist can lead to it. Symptoms can include elbow pain that gets worse over time and a weak grip. MedlinePlus lists lateral epicondylitis among its alternative names, and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases writes "Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)."
Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) in Spanish
- Spanish term
- Epicondilitis Lateral (Codo de Tenista)
- Gender and article
- feminine: la epicondilitis lateral (masculine: el codo de tenista)
- Pronunciation
- eh-pee-kohn-dee-LEE-tees lah-teh-RAHL (KOH-doh deh teh-NEES-tah)
| Other Spanish terms | Where it is used | Note |
|---|---|---|
| codo de tenista | General | Title of the MedlinePlus en español article; the Spanish dictionary records it under codo as a masculine medical term. |
| epicondilitis lateral | General | Listed by MedlinePlus en español among the alternative names of codo de tenista. |
No page cited here prints the headword in the exact combined form Epicondilitis lateral (codo de tenista). The forms the sources print are codo de tenista, the title of the MedlinePlus en español article, and epicondilitis lateral, which that article lists among its alternative names. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases writes the two names in the opposite order: Codo de tenista (epicondilitis lateral). Under codo, the Real Academia Española dictionary records codo de tenista as a masculine medical term.
That dictionary defines codo de tenista as a painful inflammation of the outer side of the elbow and of the forearm muscles, caused by too many rotating movements of the arm, as in tennis. MedlinePlus en español says the name comes from tenis u otros deportes de raqueta. Words it uses with the term include tendón (tendon), antebrazo (forearm), muñeca (wrist), agarre débil (weak grip) and fisioterapeuta (physical therapist).
Phrases for an appointment
What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:
| Who | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| Patient | The outside of my elbow hurts, and the pain goes down my forearm. | Me duele la parte externa del codo, y el dolor me baja por el antebrazo. |
| Clinician | Does it hurt more when you grip or twist something? | ¿Le duele más cuando agarra o tuerce algo? |
| Patient | Yes, and my grip feels weak. | Sí, y siento débil el agarre. |
| Clinician | What kind of work do you do? Do you repeat the same wrist movement many times? | ¿En qué trabaja? ¿Repite muchas veces el mismo movimiento de la muñeca? |
| Patient | I paint houses, and I use a screwdriver every day. | Pinto casas y uso un destornillador todos los días. |
| Clinician | I am going to press gently near your elbow. Tell me if it hurts. | Voy a presionar suavemente cerca del codo. Dígame si le duele. |
| Patient | I do not play tennis. Why is it called tennis elbow? | No juego tenis. ¿Por qué se llama codo de tenista? |
| Patient | Can a physical therapist show me exercises for my forearm? | ¿Un fisioterapeuta puede enseñarme ejercicios para el antebrazo? |
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) |
| Spanish (Español) | Epicondilitis Lateral (Codo de Tenista) |
| Chinese (中文) | 網球肘 |
| Korean (한국어) | 테니스 엘보 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Viêm lồi cầu ngoài xương cánh tay |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Tennis Elbow |
| Portuguese (Português) | Cotovelo de Tenista (Epicondilite Lateral) |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | โรคข้อศอกนักเทนนิส |
| Japanese (日本語) | テニス肘（外側上顆炎） |
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
ICD-10-CM code: M77 → Other enthesopathiesRelated 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: Bones, joints and muscles
All terms in this area: Bones, joints and muscles — Huesos, articulaciones y músculos
Sources
- Tennis elbow — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Codo de tenista — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- Sports Injuries–Types, Symptoms, & Risk Factors — National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), NIH
- Lesiones deportivas — National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), NIH
- codo — Diccionario de la lengua española — Real Academia Española / 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 8, 2026