Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| distrés | /disˈtɾes/ | masculine |
| distress | /distɾess/ (from spelling rules) | masculine, alternative form |
The term distrés is most commonly used in technical, medical or psychological contexts to describe acute stress or physiological distress. If you are looking for other ways to express the concept of distress, consider these options: Angustia is a common translation referring to a state of anxiety or anguish. Desazón describes an uneasy or disquieting feeling. Pena can cover distress, sorrow and grief. And Dolor can be used to express distress. If you want to express the verb form meaning to cause strain or anxiety, you can use distresar, acorar or acongojar.
Which one should you use?
While distrés is often used for technical or physiological states, angustia is the more common word for the emotional feeling of distress or anxiety in everyday Spanish.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you can say Me siento agobiado/a. to mean 'I feel overwhelmed' or Ando en broncas. to mean 'I am in trouble.' In Spain, you can use Estoy en una situación angustiosa. for 'I am in a distressing situation', Me siento afligido/a. for 'I feel afflicted', or Estoy pasando por un mal momento. for 'I am going through a tough time.'
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/disˈtɾes/
Did you know?
- While distrés is a technical term, the word angustia comes from the Latin angustus, meaning 'narrow'. It literally describes the physical sensation of the chest tightening or the throat closing during a moment of distress.
- The word pena is uniquely versatile in Spanish. Depending on the context, it can mean the deep distress of grief, a feeling of shame, or even a legal penalty.
- The word distrés is a linguistic loanword that has been adapted into Spanish from the English 'distress', following Spanish spelling rules for the 's' sound.
Examples in context
- Después de la pérdida de su ser querido, Juan se encuentra angustiado.After the loss of his loved one, Juan is distressed.
- Estoy en apuros económicos en este momento.I am in economic distress at this moment.
- Mi abuela falleció y me siento afligido por su partida.My grandmother passed away and I feel afflicted by her departure.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are talking about a stressful week at work.
- DanielMe siento muy cansado y con distrés.I feel very tired and in distress.
- ElenaLo siento, Daniel. ¿Quieres hablar de ello?I'm sorry, Daniel. Do you want to talk about it?
- DanielSí, tengo demasiado trabajo ahora.Yes, I have too much work right now.
- ElenaElena te ayudará a terminarlo pronto.Elena will help you finish it soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “distress” translations and entries distrés, distress, 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 distrés, CC BY-SA 4.0.
