mareado
/maɾeˈado/
The English phrase "light headed" is translated into Spanish as mareado.
mareado is used to describe the sensation of feeling as if you are about to faint or experiencing a spinning sensation. When describing this state, you must use the verb estar rather than ser.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word changes to agree with the person or people experiencing the sensation. Use mareada if the person is female. Use mareados if referring to a group of people that is masculine or mixed. Use mareadas if referring to a group consisting only of females.
How do you pronounce it?
/maɾeˈado/
Did you know?
- The root of mareado is the word mar, meaning 'sea'. This creates a mental connection between feeling light headed and the feeling of being tossed around by the waves of the ocean.
- If you are feeling particularly overwhelmed by a complex task or a long-winded speech, a Spaniard might say you are mareando them. This uses the verb to mean someone is intentionally spinning your head or wasting your time with nonsense.
- In Spanish, the verb marear can also describe the action of spinning an object around rapidly, such as a child being spun in circles until they are mareados.
Examples in context
- Juan se sintió mareado después de subir las escaleras tan rápido.Juan felt light headed after climbing the stairs so quickly.
- Me encuentro muy mareado/aI feel very light headed
- Me mareo y me duele la cabezaI feel light headed and have a headache
- Me siento mareado.I feel light headed.
- Me siento un poco mareado.I feel a little light headed.
- ¿Estás mareado por el calor?Are you feeling light headed from the heat?
Example conversation
María and Javier are sitting in a park during a hot afternoon.
- MaríaJavier, ¿te encuentras bien?Javier, are you okay?
- JavierNo, estoy un poco mareado.No, I am a little light headed.
- MaríaSiéntate a la sombra ahora mismo.Sit in the shade right now.
- JavierGracias, María, me ayudará.Thanks, María, it will help me.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mareado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mareado, CC BY-SA 4.0.
