US Medical Term · tests
Ultrasound
Ecografía
Also: Ultrasonido (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Ultrasound |
| Spanish (Español) | Ecografía |
| Chinese (中文) | 超音波 |
| Korean (한국어) | 초음파 검사 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Siêu âm |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Ultrasound |
| Portuguese (Português) | Ultrassonografia |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | อัลตราซาวด์ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 超音波検査 |
What it means
An ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time images of organs, blood vessels, and tissues inside your body. A technician applies a clear gel to your skin and moves a small handheld device called a transducer over the area being examined. The device sends sound waves into your body and records the echoes that bounce back. The test is painless and does not use radiation. It usually takes 20 to 45 minutes. Depending on the area being imaged, you may need a full bladder or may need to fast beforehand. Ultrasound is commonly used to examine the abdomen, pelvis, thyroid, blood vessels, and developing fetuses during pregnancy.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
Do I need a full bladder for my abdominal ultrasound?
¿Necesito tener la vejiga llena para mi ecografía abdominal?
Is the ultrasound gel cold when they put it on my skin?
¿El gel de la ecografía está frío cuando lo ponen en la piel?
Will the ultrasound show me the size of my gallstones?
¿La ecografía mostrará el tamaño de mis cálculos biliares?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026