dolor insoportable
/doloɾ insopoɾtable/from spelling rules
dolor insoportable is the Spanish phrase for excruciating pain.
This phrase is used to describe pain that is so intense it is impossible to bear. While the English word excruciating can sometimes imply a piercing or stabbing quality, the Spanish insoportable focuses specifically on the inability to endure or withstand the sensation.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of dolor (pain) and insoportable (unbearable or insupportable).
Which one should you use?
Dolor insoportable describes the intensity of the pain, whereas dolor agudo is used to describe a sensation of sharp or acute pain.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural 'excruciating pains', both the noun and the adjective must take the plural ending: dolores insoportables.
How do you pronounce it?
/doloɾ insopoɾtable/
Did you know?
- If you describe a person as insoportable in a social setting, you are not talking about their physical pain, but rather claiming that their personality is unbearable to be around.
- The word dolor is the linguistic ancestor of the English adjective 'doleful', which describes deep sadness.
- The root of soportar in insoportable comes from the Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to bear or carry', making the phrase literally about pain that cannot be carried by the person.
Examples in context
- Has descubierto mi mayor debilidad: dolor insoportable.You discovered my biggest weakness: excruciating pain.This sentence illustrates how to describe a weakness caused by dolor insoportable.Tatoeba #2942991 by marcelostockle, translation #2942980 by marcelostockle
- Estoy sufriendo un dolor insoportable en el pecho.I'm experiencing unbearable pain in my chest.
- Siento un dolor insoportable en la espalda.I feel an excruciating pain in my back.
- El paciente tiene un dolor insoportable en el abdomen.The patient has excruciating pain in the abdomen.
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are talking in a hospital waiting room.
- Sofía¿Cómo se siente tu hermano, Javier?How is your brother feeling, Javier?
- JavierTiene un dolor insoportable en la pierna.He has an excruciating pain in his leg.
- SofíaSiento mucho que esté pasando por eso.I am very sorry he is going through that.
- JavierGracias, Sofía, espero que mejore pronto.Thanks, Sofia, I hope he gets better soon.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dolor, insoportable, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
