mareado
/maɾeˈado/
In Spanish, the phrase for car sick is mareado.
The word mareado is used to describe feeling nausea or dizziness caused by the motion of a vehicle. You can specify that the sickness is caused by a car by using the phrase mareado por el coche. For a more informal way to express that your stomach churns in the car, you can say Se me revuelve el estómago en el coche.
Which one should you use?
While mareado is often used for car sickness, it is a general term that can also mean feeling dizzy, lightheaded or suffering from motion sickness in any type of vehicle.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the person who feels sick. Use mareada if the subject is female, and use the plural form mareados when referring to a group of people or a mixed-gender group.
How do you pronounce it?
/maɾeˈado/
Did you know?
- The word mareado is etymologically linked to mar, meaning 'sea'. This suggests that the sensation of car sickness is linguistically viewed as being tossed about by ocean waves.
- If you are being indecisive or talking in circles, a Spanish speaker might say you are mareando them. In this context, the word describes the act of exhausting or confusing someone with too much unnecessary talk.
- The verb marear can be used in sports to describe the act of dazzling or confusing an opponent with complex movements.
Examples in context
- Me siento mareado en el coche.I feel car sick in the car.
- Me siento mareado en el autobús.I feel car sick on the bus.
- ¿Estás mareado por el movimiento del coche?Are you feeling dizzy from the car's motion?
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are driving to the beach.
- AlejandroElena, me siento mareado.Elena, I feel car sick.
- ElenaMira hacia adelante, Alejandro.Look forward, Alejandro.
- AlejandroCreo que necesito aire fresco.I think I need some fresh air.
- ElenaVoy a abrir la ventana.I am going to open the window.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mareado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mareado, CC BY-SA 4.0.
