Which one should you use?
While tengo diarrea is the standard way to state you have the condition, you can also use me dio diarrea to indicate the onset of the condition, which literally translates to "diarrhea gave to me" (I got diarrhea).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations, such as a medical consultation, you can use Estoy sufriendo de diarrea or Padezco de diarrea to say you are suffering from or experiencing diarrhea. In informal or colloquial settings, you might hear Tengo cagadera, Estoy mal del vientre to mean you feel unwell in your belly or the euphemism estoy suelto/a (I am loose).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of Latin America, you might hear the phrase tengo churria to refer to having diarrhea.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase tengo diarrea uses the verb tener (to have) in the first-person singular present tense.
Did you know?
- The word diarrea comes from the Ancient Greek words for 'through' and 'to flow', literally describing the condition as a 'through-flowing'.
- While tengo diarrea is clinical, the term cagadera is a highly vulgar colloquialism used in many Spanish-speaking countries to describe the same condition.
- Using the phrase me dio diarrea frames the illness as an active agent that 'gave' the condition to the person, rather than a state the person simply 'has'.
Examples in context
- Tengo diarrea líquida.I have liquid diarrhea.
- Me encuentro mal del estómago y no puedo dejar de ir al baño.I feel unwell in my stomach, and I can't stop going to the bathroom.
- Necesito ver a un médico. Tengo diarrea desde hace varios días.I need to see a doctor. I have had diarrhea for several days.
- Buenos días, tengo diarrea y necesito su ayuda.Good morning, I have diarrhea, and I need your help.
- No puedo ir a trabajar porque tengo diarrea.I cannot go to work because I have diarrhea.
- Me siento mal, creo que tengo diarrea.I feel bad, I think I have diarrhea.
- Tengo diarrea desde esta mañana.I have had diarrhea since this morning.
Example conversation
Alejandro is telling Sofía why he is staying home.
- AlejandroSofía, no podré ir a la fiesta.Sofía, I won't be able to go to the party.
- Sofía¿Qué te pasa, Alejandro?What is wrong, Alejandro?
- AlejandroMe duele el estómago y tengo diarrea.My stomach hurts and I have diarrhea.
- SofíaLo siento mucho, descansa mucho.I am very sorry, rest a lot.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries diarrea, CC BY-SA 4.0.
