dolor sordo
/doloɾ soɾdo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "aching pain" is translated into Spanish as dolor sordo.
Dolor sordo describes a continuous, dull pain that is not sharp but is felt deeply in a part of the body.
Which one should you use?
Dolor sordo is used for a dull, continuous ache, whereas dolor punzante is used for a sharp, stabbing sensation.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express multiple instances of aching pain, both the noun 'dolor' and the adjective 'sordo' must be pluralized to match to form dolores sordos.
How do you pronounce it?
/doloɾ soɾdo/
Did you know?
- The word sordo is most commonly used in modern Spanish to mean 'deaf', making the phrase 'dolor sordo' literally translate to a 'deaf pain'.
- The adjective sordo shares a common ancestor with the English mathematical term 'surd', which refers to an irrational number.
- While sordo refers to a dull pain in medicine, in music and audio, it refers to a 'mute' or a damper used to soften the sound of an instrument.
Examples in context
- Tengo un dolorcito en la rodilla desde ayer.I have a little ache in my knee since yesterday.
- Siento un dolor sordo en la espalda.I feel a dull aching pain in my back.
- Es un dolor sordo, no es agudo.It is a dull, aching pain, not a sharp one.
- Tiene un dolor sordo en la rodilla.He has an aching pain in his knee.
Example conversation
Mateo tells Sofía about his muscle soreness after a workout.
- MateoSofía, me duele mucho la pierna derecha.Sofía, my right leg hurts a lot.
- SofíaMateo, ¿es un dolor fuerte o un dolor sordo?Mateo, is it a sharp pain or an aching pain?
- MateoEs más bien un dolor sordo y constante.It is more of a constant, aching pain.
- SofíaEntonces deberías descansar hoy.Then you should rest today.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dolor, sordo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
