tos con flema
/tos kon flema/from spelling rules
In Spanish, a chesty cough is tos con flema.
The phrase is used to describe a cough that produces mucus or phlegm from the lungs.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to cough with phlegm.
Which one should you use?
Use tos con flema when referring to a productive cough, whereas tos seca is used for a non-productive, dry cough.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you might hear the singular tos con flema used instead of the plural tos con flemas.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word flema is also used to describe a person who is calm and avoids panic.
- The word flema traces its roots back to the Greek word for 'flame' or 'to burn'. This is because ancient medical theory once believed that phlegm was a byproduct of bodily heat and inflammation.
- The word tos descends from the Latin tussis, which is an onomatopoeic word designed to mimic the sound of coughing.
Examples in context
- Tengo una tos con flema que no se me quita.I have a chesty cough that won't go away.
- Tengo una tos con flema muy fuerte.I have a very strong chesty cough.
- Esa tos con flema suena mal.That chesty cough sounds bad.
- El doctor me preguntó si tenía tos con flema.The doctor asked me if I had a chesty cough.
Example conversation
Mateo is telling María that he is feeling unwell.
- MateoMaría, no me siento bien hoy.María, I don't feel well today.
- María¿Es por tu resfriado?Is it because of your cold?
- MateoSí, tengo una tos con flema persistente.Yes, I have a persistent chesty cough.
- MaríaDeberías descansar y beber mucha agua.You should rest and drink plenty of water.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries con, flema, tos, CC BY-SA 4.0.
