la regla
everyday
For a menstrual period, Spanish speakers commonly say la regla. Informal ways to say it include estar con la regla and estar en mis días. It is also called El período.
Meaning: menstrual period (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| la regla | everyday |
| Estar en mis días | Latin America, euphemism |
| El período | standard |
Tengo la regla is a direct everyday way to say you have your period. Estoy en mis días is softer and more discreet.
Which one should you use?
El período is the standard medical term. La regla is plain and widely used, and mis días avoids naming it.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Estar en mis días is common across Latin America. La regla is common in Spain and is also understood in Latin America.
What mistakes should you avoid?
This page covers the menstrual period. The punctuation mark called "period" is punto in Spanish.
Did you know?
- The word regla also means "ruler" and "rule", and in this sense it points to something regular that comes at set times.
Examples in context
- Hoy tengo la regla y me duele la barriga.I have my period today and my stomach hurts.
- Estoy en mis días, así que no tengo ganas de salir.I am on my period, so I do not feel like going out.
- Me llegó el período antes de lo normal.My period came earlier than usual.
Example conversation
Lucía and her sister Paula talk at home.
- Paula¿Vienes al cine?Are you coming to the cinema?
- LucíaHoy no, estoy en mis días.Not today, I am on my period.
- PaulaVale, te traigo palomitas.OK, I will bring you popcorn.
