tos seca
/tos seka/from spelling rules
The English phrase "tickly cough" can be translated into Spanish as tos seca.
A tickly cough refers to a dry cough triggered by an irritating sensation in the throat.
Which one should you use?
While tos seca is the standard way to describe this sensation, you may encounter Tos irritativa in formal contexts or Tos con cosquilleo in informal speech.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, a 'tickly cough' is colloquially associated with aire, a belief that a sudden draft of cold air has 'entered' the body and irritated the throat.
- While tos seca describes the cough, Spanish speakers use the specific verb carraspear to describe the act of clearing the throat to soothe the irritation.
- The word tos comes from the Latin tussis, which is also the root of the English medical term 'pertussis'.
Examples in context
- Tengo una tos irritativaI have a tickly cough
- Tengo una tos seca que no me deja dormir.I have a dry cough that won't let me sleep.
- Tengo una tos seca constante.I have a constant tickly cough.
- Esa tos seca parece muy molesta.That tickly cough seems very annoying.
- La tos seca me despierta por la noche.The tickly cough wakes me up at night.
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are talking in the kitchen.
- ElenaAlejandro, ¿estás enfermo?Alejandro, are you sick?
- AlejandroSí, tengo una tos seca desde ayer.Yes, I've had a tickly cough since yesterday.
- ElenaPuedo prepararte un té con miel.I can make you a tea with honey.
- AlejandroMuchas gracias, Elena.Thank you very much, Elena.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tos, CC BY-SA 4.0.
