Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| embarazado | /embaɾaˈθado/ /embaɾaˈsado/ |
| preñado | /pɾeˈɲado/ |
| encinto | /enˈθinto/ /enˈsinto/ |
| grávido | /ˈɡɾabido/ |
| en estado | /en esˈtado/ |
The primary way to express that someone is carrying developing offspring within their body is to use the adjective embarazado.
Which one should you use?
While embarazado is the standard term, other forms exist. Grávido is a highly formal or technical term used primarily in medical or literary contexts, while preñado is often used in a more colloquial or even crude sense, frequently applied to animals. En espera de un bebé and esperando un bebé are ways to say 'waiting for a baby'. Encinto and en estado are also variations for this state.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Embarazada is the most common way to say pregnant in Spanish. If you want to be formal, you can use the expression en espera de un bebé. In informal conversations, people often use esperando un bebé. Avoid using preñado for humans as it can be seen as impolite or crude. For medical or literary contexts, use the formal term grávido.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender with the person it describes. While the default form is embarazado, you must use the feminine form embarazada when referring to a woman.
How do you pronounce it?
/embaɾaˈθado/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often confuse embarazado (pregnant) with embarazoso (embarrassing) due to the similarity to the English word 'embarrassed'.
Did you know?
- The root of embarazado can be traced back through Old Galician-Portuguese to an ancient Arabic word marasa.
- The expression en estado is a colloquial way to say someone is pregnant, often used in certain regions to avoid the more literal word for pregnancy.
Examples in context
- Tom está bastante seguro de no poder quedarse embarazado.Tom is pretty sure that he can't become pregnant.This sentence shows the use of embarazado regarding a person's ability to become pregnant.Tatoeba #1187217 by Shishir, translation #1024896 by CK
- Estoy embarazado.I am pregnant.This sentence is a simple way to use embarazado to state one is pregnant.Tatoeba #1217171 by wallebot, translation #259872 by shekitten
- ¿Sabías que los hombres que toman regularmente la píldora anticonceptiva no se quedan embarazados?Did you know that men who regularly take the birth control pill don't get pregnant?This sentence illustrates the use of embarazado in a discussion about birth control.Tatoeba #523572 by Shishir, translation #388609 by kurisutofu
- Estoy embarazadaI am pregnant
- Mi esposa está con un bebé en caminoMy wife is pregnant
- Mi hermana está esperando un bebéMy sister is pregnant
- Mi pareja está con un bebé en caminoMy partner is pregnant
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are talking about a mutual friend.
- MaríaMira a Laura, creo que está embarazado.Look at Laura, I think she is pregnant.
- AlejandroNo lo sé, ella no ha dicho nada.I don't know, she hasn't said anything.
- MaríaParece muy evidente que está embarazado.It seems very obvious that she is pregnant.
- AlejandroEsperemos a que ella nos lo confirme.Let's wait for her to confirm it to us.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pregnant” translations and entries embarazado, preñado, encinto, grávido, en estado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries embarazado, encinto, grávido, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
