mareo
/maˈɾeo/masculine
Motion sickness in Spanish is mareo. Wiktionary also lists cinetosis.
Meaning: nausea or dizziness in a moving vehicle (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mareo | /maˈɾeo/ | masculine |
| cinetosis | /θineˈtosis/ /sineˈtosis/ |
feminine |
The term refers to the nausea or dizziness experienced in a moving vehicle. In natural conversation, instead of using a noun, people often use the verb 'tener' (to have) with the plural mareos to say they are feeling motion sick.
Which one should you use?
mareo is the much more common word used to describe the sensation of dizziness or nausea caused by motion. In contrast, cinetosis is the technical medical term for motion sickness.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the verb marearse is often used to describe the action of feeling motion sick.
How does it change in a sentence?
To describe a person who is currently feeling motion sickness, use the adjective mareado for a male or mareada for a female.
How do you pronounce it?
/maˈɾeo/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, the phrase marear la perdiz (to dizzy the partridge) is a common idiom meaning to stall for time or lead someone on a wild goose chase.
- The verb marear is frequently used to mean 'to stall' or 'to waste someone's time' by intentionally making a process longer or more complicated than necessary.
- The word mareo shares the same root as the Spanish word for 'sea', which is mar.
Examples in context
- El viaje en el barco me provoca mareo.The boat ride makes me feel motion sickness.
- Algunas personas sufren de cinetosis en los vuelos largos.Some people suffer from motion sickness on long flights.
- No me gusta montar en montañas rusas, siempre acabo mareado.I don't like riding roller coasters, I always end up feeling motion sick.
- Siempre sufre del mal del coche cuando viajamos largas distancias en automóvil.He always suffers from motion sickness when we travel long distances by car.
- Tengo náuseas de viaje cada vez que volamos en avión.I get travel nausea every time we fly.
- Me mareo fácilmente en los transportes públicos más pequeños.I easily get motion sick in small public transport vehicles.
- Me mareo en los viajes largos.I get motion sickness on long trips.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofia are traveling in a car.
- AlejandroSofía, ¿estás bien?Sofia, are you okay?
- SofíaTengo un poco de mareo.I have a bit of motion sickness.
- AlejandroMira hacia adelante para evitar el mareo.Look forward to avoid the motion sickness.
- SofíaGracias, Alejandro, voy a intentar eso.Thanks, Alejandro, I will try that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “motion sickness” translations and entries mareo, cinetosis, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mareo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
