resfriado común
/resfɾjado komun/from spelling rules
The English phrase "common cold" is translated into Spanish as resfriado común.
Resfriado común is used to describe a mild viral infection of the nose and throat. In casual conversation, speakers often drop the adjective común and simply say un resfriado to mean a cold.
What does it mean word for word?
The term resfriado comes from the verb resfriar, which means to make cold or to catch a chill.
Which one should you use?
While resfriado común refers to a mild cold, gripe is used specifically for the influenza virus.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin America and some Caribbean regions, resfrío is a common term for a common cold. In Spain, the term constipado/a is typically used to describe the same condition.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun resfriado is masculine and requires the masculine article el when used in the singular.
Did you know?
- In Spain, if you tell someone you are constipado, they will think you have a cold. In most other Spanish-speaking countries, however, constipación refers exclusively to constipation of the bowels.
- The word resfriado shares a root with frío, meaning 'cold'. This reflects an older belief in many Spanish-speaking cultures that the illness is caused by the physical act of being chilled rather than a virus.
- Spanish has a specific word, estornudar, for the action of sneezing that accompanies a resfriado. In many Spanish-speaking cultures, it is customary to say ¡Salud! meaning 'health' after someone sneezes.
Examples in context
- No hay cura para el resfriado común.There is no cure for the common cold.This sentence is useful for expressing that there is no cure for the resfriado común.Tatoeba #7966730 by Seael, translation #34348 by CK
- Ajo y cebolla son buenos remedios contra el resfriado común.Garlic and onion are good remedies against the common cold.This sentence illustrates that garlic and onion are good remedies against the resfriado común.Tatoeba #1938694 by teskmon, translation #743747 by negativeclock
- Me agarró un catarro después de salir bajo la lluvia.I caught a cold after going out in the rain.
- Tengo un resfriado común y me duele la garganta.I have a common cold and my throat hurts.
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are talking on the phone about health.
- Mateo¿Cómo estás, Lucía?How are you, Lucía?
- LucíaNo estoy muy bien, tengo un resfriado común.I am not very well, I have a common cold.
- MateoLo siento mucho, espero que te recuperes pronto.I am very sorry, I hope you recover soon.
- LucíaGracias, Mateo, te lo agradezco.Thank you, Mateo, I appreciate it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
