estreñimiento
neutral, medical
Constipation is estreñimiento in Mexico. To say you are constipated, use estoy estreñido or estoy estreñida. It is also called estar estreñido.
Meaning: difficulty passing stool (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| estreñimiento | neutral, medical |
| estar estreñido | common phrase |
At a doctor or pharmacy say tengo estreñimiento. Doctors may also say no puedo evacuar to ask or describe the problem.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes guess that constipado means constipated. In Mexico constipado means having a cold.
Did you know?
- The false friend constipado means "having a cold" in several Spanish-speaking countries, including Mexico.
Examples in context
- Tengo estreñimiento desde hace tres días.I have been constipated for three days.
- Estoy estreñida, ¿qué me recomienda?I am constipated, what do you recommend?
Example conversation
Marisol asks the pharmacist Doctor Salinas for help in a pharmacy in Puebla.
- MarisolBuenas tardes, tengo estreñimiento.Good afternoon, I am constipated.
- Doctor Salinas¿Desde cuándo?Since when?
- MarisolDesde hace tres días.For three days.
