How to Say “Throw Up” in Spanish

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vomitar
/bomiˈtaɾ/
To throw up in Spanish is vomitar.
The phrase is used to describe the act of ejecting the contents of the stomach through the mouth.

Which one should you use?

While vomitar is the standard term, you may encounter other ways to express this. Echar la pota is an informal way to say one is throwing up, and devolver is often used as a euphemism in casual conversation. In highly technical or medical settings, one might use the phrase emitir contenido gástrico.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

Vomitar is the standard, more direct or clinical term. For a more polite or indirect way to say it in casual conversation, you can use devolver. If you are in a very casual setting, you might use the informal expression echar la pota, whereas a medical professional might use the formal phrase emitir contenido gástrico.

How do you pronounce it?

/bomiˈtaɾ/

Did you know?

  • In Spanish, vomitar can be used figuratively to describe someone speaking or writing in a sudden, uncontrolled, and disgusting torrent of words.
  • The informal expression echar la pota is primarily used in Spain and would be confusing to speakers in Latin America, who use different slang for the act.
  • While vomitar is the standard term, saying me ha devuelto la cena (the dinner has returned to me) is a common way to describe the event without being blunt.

Examples in context

  • Creo que voy a vomitar.
    I think I'm going to throw up.
    This sentence is useful for expressing the feeling that you are about to throw up.
    Tatoeba #2442853 by wallebot, translation #3726236 by CM
  • Perdón por lo que escribí, porque quería vomitar.
    Sorry for what I wrote, because I wanted to throw up.
    This sentence provides an example of using the verb to explain a previous action.
    Tatoeba #10095048 by manufrutos, translation #10094990 by AmarMecheri
  • Voy a vomitar.
    I'm going to throw up.
    This sentence is a simple way to state that you are going to throw up.
    Tatoeba #10201475 by DJ_Saidez, translation #2547197 by CK
  • El niño comió tanto dulce que vomitó por toda la alfombra.
    The child ate so much candy that he threw up all over the carpet.
  • Después de beber tanto, mi amigo terminó echando la pota en el baño.
    After drinking so much, my friend ended up throwing up in the bathroom.
  • Después de la ingesta de alimentos en mal estado, es posible que algunos pacientes presenten náuseas y puedan devolver lo ingerido.
    After consuming spoiled food, it is possible for some patients to feel nauseous and potentially bring back what they ate.

Example conversation

Javier and María are at home and María feels unwell.

  1. Javier

    María, ¿estás bien? Te ves muy pálida.
    María, are you okay? You look very pale.
  2. María

    No, me siento mal y tengo ganas de vomitar.
    No, I feel bad and I feel like throwing up.
  3. Javier

    Lo siento mucho. ¿Quieres ir a la cama?
    I am very sorry. Do you want to go to bed?
  4. María

    Sí, por favor, necesito descansar un poco.
    Yes, please, I need to rest a bit.

Sources

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Wendy Ivy
Wendy IvyHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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