Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| tragar | /tɾaˈɡaɾ/ |
| zampar | /θamˈpaɾ/ /samˈpaɾ/ |
| deglutir | /deɡluˈtiɾ/ |
| engullir | /enɡuˈʝiɾ/ |
| embuchar | /embuˈt͡ʃaɾ/ |
In Spanish, the choice of word depends on whether you are describing the physical act of swallowing, the speed of consumption or the sound made. While tragar is the general term for swallowing, other verbs like zampar and engullir are used to describe eating or drinking greedily and quickly.
Which one should you use?
tragar is the most common and neutral way to say 'to swallow'. In contrast, zampar implies eating or drinking something very quickly and greedily, similar to 'to wolf down'. engullir emphasizes the speed and a lack of chewing, often used when swallowing food in large pieces. Finally, deglutir is a technical or medical term for the physiological act of swallowing.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/tɾaˈɡaɾ/
When do people say it?
Spanish also uses onomatopoeia to represent the sounds associated with gulping. glup can represent the sound of swallowing or a sudden gulp of fear. If you want to represent the sound of liquid being poured or swallowed in large draughts, use gluglú.
Did you know?
- One theory suggests tragar comes from the Latin word for 'dragon' via a term for 'underground cavern' that swallows things up.
- The verb tragar is used in the common idiom tragar saliva, which describes the act of swallowing hard when nervous or anxious.
- The medical term deglutir is strictly reserved for clinical contexts and would sound bizarre if used at a dinner table.
Examples in context
- Claro, toma de un solo trago si quieres.Sure, drink it in one gulp if you want.
- Sí, vacía el vaso de un sorbo.Yes, empty the glass in one gulp.
- Ten cuidado al tragar esa sopa caliente.Be careful when swallowing that hot soup.
- Él no puede tragar sin sentir dolor.He cannot swallow without feeling pain.
- Tragar mucha agua de golpe es peligroso.Swallowing a lot of water at once is dangerous.
Example conversation
A man is eating very quickly at a restaurant.
- Alejandro¡Qué hambre tengo, voy a tragar todo esto!I'm so hungry, I'm going to gulp all of this down!
- LucíaNo, Alejandro, mastica bien la comida.No, Alejandro, chew your food well.
- AlejandroEs que es demasiado delicioso.It's just that it's too delicious.
- LucíaAun así, no te apresures tanto.Even so, don't rush so much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gulp” translations and entries tragar, zampar, deglutir, engullir, embuchar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries deglutir, engullir, tragar, zampar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
