resfriado
/resˈfɾjado/
The English phrase 'cold sickness' is translated into Spanish as resfriado.
In more formal or medical contexts, you might use Infección respiratoria for a respiratory infection or Enfermedad viral to describe a viral illness, which can include a cold or any other illness caused by a virus.
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish resfriado, which refers to a common cold, from gripe, which means the flu and is a more severe illness.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a noun, resfriado is a masculine singular noun. Its plural form is resfriados. To express that you have a cold, you use the verb tener (to have), as in the phrase tener un resfriado.
How do you pronounce it?
/resˈfɾjado/
Did you know?
- If you want to say you are 'under the weather', you might say estar resfriado, but in many Spanish-speaking cultures, people also say estar constipado to mean they have a cold. To an English speaker, this sounds like the person is suffering from constipation.
- In many Latin American countries, instead of saying tengo un resfriado, people simply say estoy resfriado. This uses the verb estar (to be) to describe a temporary physical state, whereas English almost always requires the verb 'to have'.
- While resfriado means a cold, the verb resfriarse can also be used to describe the act of catching a chill from a sudden temperature drop, regardless of whether a virus is involved.
Examples in context
- ¿Cuáles son los síntomas del resfriado?What are the symptoms of a cold?
- He sido diagnosticado/a con una infección respiratoria.I've been diagnosed with a respiratory infection.
- Mi hijo tiene una enfermedad viral.My child has a viral illness.
- Me siento mal, creo que tengo gripa.I feel unwell, I think I have a cold.
- Tengo un resfriado muy fuerte.I have a very strong cold.
- Parece que tienes un resfriado.It looks like you have a cold.
- El resfriado ya se me pasó.My cold has already gone away.
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are talking at the office.
- JavierHola Sofía, ¿estás bien?Hi Sofía, are you okay?
- SofíaNo, creo que tengo un resfriado.No, I think I have a cold.
- JavierDeberías ir a casa a descansar.You should go home to rest.
- SofíaTienes razón, Javier. Gracias.You are right, Javier. Thanks.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry resfriado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
