un resfriado
neutral
When you are sick, a cold is un resfriado or un catarro. In Spain people also say un constipado, and in Mexico and Colombia gripa is common.
Meaning: common cold illness (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| un resfriado | neutral |
| un catarro | neutral |
| un constipado | Spain |
| gripa | Mexico, Colombia |
To say you have one: Tengo un resfriado or Estoy resfriado. With catarro you say Tengo catarro.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Constipado in Spain means a cold, but in Latin America estreñido is the word for constipated, which is a trap for learners. Gripe in Spanish means the flu.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use frío for being sick. Tengo frío means "I feel cold", the temperature.
Did you know?
- The word resfriado comes from frío (cold), and the same root gives the verb resfriarse, to catch a cold.
Examples in context
- Tengo un resfriado muy fuerte.I have a really bad cold.
- Estoy constipado desde ayer.I have had a cold since yesterday.
- Ella tiene gripa y no fue a trabajar.She has a cold and did not go to work.
Example conversation
Hugo calls his boss, Señora Vega, in the morning.
- HugoBuenos días. Hoy no puedo ir.Good morning. I cannot come in today.
- Señora Vega¿Qué pasa?What is wrong?
- HugoTengo un resfriado y mucha tos.I have a cold and a bad cough.
