me quedé sin voz
/me kede sin boθ/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "I lost my voice" is expressed as me quedé sin voz.
This phrase is used when someone is unable to speak or can only whisper due to illness or strain.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase me quedé sin voz literally translates to "I stayed without voice."
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American regions, you may hear Se me fue la voz, which translates to "My voice left me". In Spain, He perdido la voz is commonly used to say "I lost my voice" and Me he quedado sin voz is also frequently used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form me quedé sin voz uses the preterite tense, which indicates a completed action in the past.
How do you pronounce it?
/me kede sin boθ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use perdí mi voz as a literal translation. me quedé sin voz is the more natural way to express this in Spanish.
Did you know?
- The phrasing se me fue la voz uses a grammatical structure called the 'accidental se'. It removes personal blame by suggesting the loss of voice was an accident of fate.
- Depending on the region, using perdido in he perdido la voz is common in Spain, but in parts of Latin America, using the verb perder for a voice can sound like a permanent disability.
- If a Spanish speaker says estoy afónico, they are using a technical term derived from 'aphonia'. This is a common way to describe the condition without using a full phrase.
Examples in context
- Me quedé sin voz por el frío.I lost my voice because of the cold.
- Después de tanto gritar, me quedé sin voz.After shouting so much, I lost my voice.
- No puedo hablar porque me quedé sin voz.I cannot talk because I lost my voice.
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are talking on the phone after a concert.
- Elena¡Hola Mateo! Lo siento, me quedé sin voz.Hi Mateo! I'm sorry, I lost my voice.
- MateoNo te preocupes, Elena, fue un concierto increíble.Don't worry, Elena, it was an incredible concert.
- ElenaSí, pero ahora solo puedo susurrar.Yes, but now I can only whisper.
- MateoDescansa mucho para que te recuperes pronto.Rest a lot so you recover soon.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
