tensión
/tenˈsjon/
The English word strain (meaning an injury resulting from violent effort) is translated into Spanish as tensión.
When referring to a biological or botanical strain, more specialized terms are used: in formal contexts, cepa refers to a particular variety of bacteria, virus or plant, while variedad is a formal way to say 'strain' when emphasizing a specific variation of plants or crops. Note that if you mean to strain a liquid through a sieve, the verb colar is used and if you mean to apply force, the verb esforzar is used.
Meaning: injury resulting from violent effort (noun)
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/tenˈsjon/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word cepa used for a viral strain literally means 'vine stock' or 'stump'. This reflects a botanical metaphor where a specific genetic lineage is viewed as a branch from a single root.
- The words tensión and tesón are linguistic doublets, meaning they both originate from the same Latin root tēnsiōnem despite having very different meanings today.
- While tensión describes the feeling of strain in a relationship, Spanish speakers use the phrase estirar la cuerda, meaning 'to stretch the rope', to describe pushing that strain to its limit.
Examples in context
- La colaboración entre esos hombres un tanto excéntricos estuvo llena de tensión y acuerdo entre ambas partes, pero al fin y al cabo, parecen haberse llevado bien.The collaboration between these somewhat eccentric men was filled with strain and compromise on both sides, but in the end they appear to have gotten on well.This sentence is useful for seeing how tensión describes the strain within a relationship or collaboration.Tatoeba #1114331 by marcelostockle, translation #587212 by Manfredo
- la cepa de virus de la gripeThe strain of flu virus
- una variedad de trigoA strain of wheat
- el linaje genético de la cepaThe strain's genetic lineage
- un genotipo específico del virus del VIHA specific strain of the HIV virus
- Prefiero los sabores únicos de las diferentes cepas de café de Colombia.I prefer the unique flavors of the different coffee strains from Colombia.
- Necesitamos analizar el linaje genético de esta nueva cepa de influenza.We need to analyze the genetic lineage of this new strain of influenza.
- Siento una tensión constante en la espalda.I feel a constant strain in my back.
Example conversation
Daniel is complaining about his shoulder after the gym.
- DanielCreo que tengo una tensión en el hombro.I think I have a strain in my shoulder.
- MaríaDeberías descansar el brazo, Daniel.You should rest your arm, Daniel.
- DanielSí, la tensión empezó durante el ejercicio.Yes, the strain started during the exercise.
- MaríaPonte algo de hielo ahora mismo.Put some ice on it right now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tensión, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tensión, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
