Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| estoy resfriado | /estoi ɾesfɾjado/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| estoy resfriada | /estoi ɾesfɾjada/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
While you can also say Tengo un resfriado to mean "I have a cold," or Presento síntomas de resfriado to say "I am experiencing cold symptoms," the form estoy resfriado describes your current state of being ill.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on the gender of the person speaking. Use estoy resfriado if you are male and estoy resfriada if you are female. It is important not to confuse this with tengo frío, which means "I am cold" in reference to feeling a low temperature rather than being ill.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Regional variations exist for this expression. In Spain, it is common to use Estoy constipado/a. In parts of Latin America, particularly Argentina, you might hear Estoy engripado/a. In some South American countries like Chile and Uruguay, the phrase Estoy mal del resfrío is used to mean "I am feeling bad from the cold."
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending of the word changes to match the gender of the speaker: a male speaker uses the masculine ending resfriado, while a female speaker uses the feminine ending resfriada.
Did you know?
- In Spain, saying estoy constipado means you have a cold, but in English, 'constipated' refers to a digestive issue. This is a classic 'false friend' that can lead to very awkward misunderstandings in a pharmacy.
- The word resfriado is derived from frío, meaning 'cold'. Literally, the speaker is saying they have been 'cooled down' or 'chilled', reflecting the ancient belief that low temperatures directly cause the illness.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the phrase estoy resfriado is often followed by a suggestion to drink a 'té de canela' or 'caldo de pollo' as a traditional remedy.
Examples in context
- No te me acerques, estoy resfriado.Don't come near me. I have a cold.This sentence is useful for telling someone not to come near you because you are ill using estoy resfriado.Tatoeba #1147688 by Shishir, translation #43246 by CK
- Cuando estoy resfriado no puedo saborear nada.When I have a cold, I cannot taste anything.This sentence shows how to express that a cold affects your ability to taste using estoy resfriado.Tatoeba #1813563 by marcelostockle, translation #682131 by Source_VOA
- Estoy resfriado.I have a cold.This is a simple way to state that you have a cold using estoy resfriado.Tatoeba #345499 by tatoerique, translation #321954 by CK
Example conversation
Alejandro calls Lucía to explain why he cannot go to the party.
- AlejandroHola Lucía, lo siento, pero no puedo ir.Hello Lucía, I am sorry, but I cannot go.
- Lucía¿Te pasa algo malo, Alejandro?Is something wrong, Alejandro?
- AlejandroSí, es que estoy resfriado.Yes, it is just that I have a cold.
- LucíaOh, espero que te mejores pronto.Oh, I hope you get better soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I have a cold” translations, 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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
