hinchado
/inˈt͡ʃado/
The English word "swollen" is translated into Spanish as hinchado.
hinchado is used to describe something that is distended or physically swollen. For an informal way to say someone or something is "swollen like a ball," you can use the expression hinchado/a como una pelota.
Meaning: distended (adj)
Which one should you use?
While the adjective hinchado describes the physical state of being swollen, the verb hinchar means to swell or to inflate.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes.
How do you pronounce it?
/inˈtʃado/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking contexts, particularly in Spain, the verb hinchar is used colloquially to mean 'to annoy' or 'to bother' someone, as in 'me hincha las narices'.
- The adjective hinchado can be used figuratively to describe someone who is 'stuck-up' or 'full of themselves', implying they are inflated with pride.
- In some Latin American countries, hinchado can describe a crowd that is packed tight, as if the space itself is swollen with people.
Examples in context
- Su ojo estaba hinchado.Her eye was swollen.This sentence shows how to use hinchado to describe an eye.Tatoeba #10717370 by ecorralest101, translation #2490730 by Hybrid
- Tengo los pies hinchados.My legs are swollen.This sentence shows how to use hinchados to describe feet.Tatoeba #8308819 by arh, translation #9698917 by CK
- Tengo los dos pies hinchados.Both my feet are swollen.Tatoeba #13698427 by Seael, translation #5066323 by CK
- Mis tobillos están hinchados después de tanto tiempo de pie.My ankles are swollen after standing for so long.
- La rodilla está inflamada debido a una lesión.The knee is swollen due to an injury.
- Después de la picadura de mosquito, mi brazo se puso hinchado como una pelota.After the mosquito bite, my arm became swollen like a ball.
- Me golpeé la frente y ahora está hinchada con un chichón.I hit my forehead and now it's swollen with a bump.
- Mis pies están tan hinchados que no me caben en los zapatos.My feet are so swollen that they don't fit into my shoes.
- Después de la cirugía, mi pierna estaba roja, caliente e hinchada.After the surgery, my leg was red, hot, and swollen.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel is showing María his injured finger.
- María¿Qué te pasó en la mano?What happened to your hand?
- DanielMe golpeé y tengo el dedo hinchado.I hit myself and my finger is swollen.
- MaríaParece que está muy hinchado.It looks very swollen.
- DanielSí, me duele bastante.Yes, it hurts quite a bit.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry hinchado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
