Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| ahogar un grito | /aoɡaɾ un ɡɾito/ (from spelling rules) |
| afogar un grito | /afoɡaɾ un ɡɾito/ (from spelling rules) |
| boquear | /bokeˈaɾ/ |
| respirar con dificultad | /respiɾaɾ kon difikultad/ (from spelling rules) |
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ahogar un grito literally means to drown a cry.
Which one should you use?
Ahogar un grito describes the suppression of a sound while gasping. Boquear is used specifically for the gasping motion of a mouth opening to catch air, often used metaphorically to describe someone gasping for air like a fish out of water. Respirar con dificultad is a descriptive phrase for the physical act of labored breathing.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, a common way to express a gasp informally is by exclaiming ¡Madre mía! (My goodness!). In some Latin American countries, people use Ay, Dios mío! (Oh, my God!) to express a gasp.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/aoɡaɾ un ɡɾito/
When do people say it?
Speakers in Spain often use ¡Madre mía! while those in parts of Latin America often use Ay, Dios mío!
Did you know?
Example sentences for Spanish are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gasp” translations and entries boquear, 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 ahogar, boquear, con, grito, respirar, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
