diarrea
/djaˈrea/feminine
The Spanish word for diarrhea is diarrea. Wiktionary also lists colitis and cagadera.
Meaning: medical condition (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| diarrea | /djaˈrea/ | feminine |
| colitis | /koˈlitis/ | feminine |
| cagadera | /kaɡaˈdeɾa/ | feminine |
| churria | /ˈt͡ʃurja/ | El Salvador, Nicaragua, feminine |
| currutaca | /kuruˈtaka/ | feminine |
| churretera | /t͡ʃureˈteɾa/ | Chile, feminine |
| quicha | /kit͡ʃa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| pringapié | /pɾinɡapje/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
The term refers to the medical condition (noun).
Which one should you use?
While diarrea refers to the symptom of loose stools, colitis refers specifically to inflammation of the colon. Pringapié is a masculine noun used for this condition, whereas most other forms are feminine.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a formal way to describe the discomfort associated with diarrhea, you can use the phrase trastorno intestinal. For informal settings, churria is used, while cagadera is considered a vulgar, slang term. Cagalera is also used as slang.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Chile, the term churretera is used. In El Salvador and Nicaragua, the word churria is common.
How does it change in a sentence?
Diarrea is a feminine noun and requires feminine articles and adjectives, such as la diarrea.
How do you pronounce it?
/djaˈrea/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, the word cagadera is used metaphorically to describe a chaotic or disastrous situation that has nothing to do with health.
- The word diarrea was borrowed from Late Latin before entering the Spanish language.
- The suffix -dera used in words like cagadera often serves to emphasize that an action is intense or happens repeatedly.
Examples in context
- Tengo algo de diarrea.I have a touch of diarrhea.The first sentence shows how to say you have a touch of diarrea.Tatoeba #1661883 by wallebot, translation #25351 by boink
- Aquí hay algo de medicina para la diarrea.Here's some medicine for diarrhea.The second sentence is useful for mentioning medicine for diarrea.Tatoeba #1152487 by marcelostockle, translation #25350 by darinmex
- ¿Tienes diarrea?Do you have diarrhea?The third sentence is a way to ask if someone has diarrea.Tatoeba #9852070 by Shishir, translation #1671646 by NurseMeeks
- Tuve diarrea toda la noche.I had diarrhea all night.
- Mi hermana sufre de enterocolitis aguda.My sister suffers from acute enterocolitis.
- No puedo ir, me dio churria.I can't go, I got diarrhea.
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel is feeling unwell at home.
- Elena¿Cómo te sientes hoy, Daniel?How are you feeling today, Daniel?
- DanielNo me siento bien, tengo diarrea.I don't feel well, I have diarrhea.
- ElenaLo siento, voy a traerte un té.I'm sorry, I'm going to bring you some tea.
- DanielGracias, Elena, te lo agradezco mucho.Thank you, Elena, I really appreciate it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “diarrhea” translations and entries diarrea, colitis, cagadera, churria, currutaca, churretera, quicha, pringapié, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cagadera, diarrea, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
