hormigueo
/oɾmiˈɡeo/masculine
The English phrase "tingling" is translated into Spanish as hormigueo.
hormigueo is used to describe a tingling sensation. For example, if you are describing a numbness that also includes a lack of feeling, the formal term adormecimiento is appropriate. If the sensation feels specifically like a series of quick pinches, the informal term pinchazón may be used.
Meaning: a tingling sensation (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word hormigueo is derived from hormiga, which means "ant". It literally evokes the sensation of ants crawling on the skin.
Which one should you use?
While hormigueo is the general term for tingling, adormecimiento is used when the sensation is specifically tied to numbness. In contrast, pinchazón is used to describe a sensation that feels like quick pinches.
Is it said differently in some regions?
pinchazón is an informal term specifically used in Latin America.
How does it change in a sentence?
hormigueo is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/oɾmiˈɡeo/
Did you know?
- The Spanish verb hormiguear can also be used metaphorically to describe a place that is 'teeming' or 'swarming' with people, just as ants swarm.
- If you want to say your limb is 'falling asleep', you can say se me duerme la pierna, using the verb 'to sleep' instead of a word for tingling.
- Spanish uses the root for 'ant' to describe the physical sensation, whereas English uses an onomatopoeic word based on the sound 'ting'.
Examples in context
- Siento un hormigueo en la manoI feel tingling in my hand
- Experimenté adormecimiento y hormigueo en mis piernasI experienced numbness and tingling in my legs
- Tengo un hormigueo en la pierna derechaI have tingling in my right leg
- Siento un cosquilleo en los dedosI feel tingling in my fingers
- Tengo adormecimiento en las manosI have tingling/numbness in my hands
- El frío me provoca hormigueo en los brazosThe cold makes my arms tingle
- Siento un hormigueo en la pierna.I feel a tingling in my leg.
- Siento un hormigueo en el pie.I feel a tingling in my foot.
- Ese hormigueo en la mano no para.That tingling in my hand won't stop.
- El hormigueo en los dedos es molesto.The tingling in my fingers is annoying.
Example conversation
María tells Alejandro about her foot falling asleep.
- MaríaTengo un hormigueo en el pie.I have a tingling in my foot.
- AlejandroTal vez dormiste sobre él, María.Maybe you slept on it, María.
- MaríaSí, el hormigueo no se quita.Yes, the tingling isn't going away.
- AlejandroIntenta mover los dedos un poco.Try moving your toes a bit.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tingling” translations and entries hormigueo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
