Physical Sensations & Perceptions in Spanish
Explore a collection of Spanish words related to physical sensations and perceptions. Ideal learning resource for beginners.
experimentar dolor
experience pain
The Spanish phrase 'experimentar dolor' translates to 'experience pain' in English. This phrase conveys the act of personally undergoing or feeling physical discomfort or suffering as a result of an injury or illness, or emotional distress from a particular situation.
fatigarse
fatigue
The Spanish verb 'fatigarse' translates to 'to get tired' or 'to fatigue' in English. It's often used in the context of expressing physical or mental exhaustion. An example of its usage is: 'Me estoy fatigando de tanto correr', which would translate to 'I'm getting tired from so much running'.
gusto
taste
The Spanish word 'gusto' translates to 'taste' in English. It is used to refer to the sensation that something creates in your mouth when you eat or drink it. It is also used metaphorically to express a liking or preference for something or someone. Example: 'A mi gusto, esta es la mejor película del año.' Meaning: 'To my taste, this is the best movie of the year.'
morirse de cansancio
dying of tiredness
The Spanish phrase 'morirse de cansancio' can be translated into English as 'dying of tiredness'. This is an idiomatic expression used to emphasize a state of extreme tiredness or exhaustion. This could be due to physical or mental fatigue. Just like the English equivalent, it doesn't necessarily mean a physical death but rather it emphasizes the severity of the tiredness to the point it feels like 'dying'. It is typically used in casual, informal conversation.
morirse de frío
dying of cold
The Spanish phrase 'morirse de frío' translates to 'dying of cold' in English. This phrase is usually used metaphorically or in an exaggerated way to express that someone is feeling extremely cold, rather than literally dying because of the cold.
morirse de sed
dying of thirst
The phrase 'morirse de sed' in Spanish means 'dying of thirst' in English. This is an idiomatic expression used to emphasize a strong and urgent craving for a drink, typically for water. It can also be used metaphorically to express a strong desire or need for something else.
morirse de sueño
dying of sleep
The Spanish phrase 'morirse de sueño' is a colloquial and figurative way to express extreme tiredness. It doesn't literally mean 'dying of sleep,' but it signifies that someone is so sleepy or tired that they feel as if they're dying from it. Just like in English, such idiomatic expressions are used to emphasize feelings in a more dramatic and exaggerated way.
no poder más
No more power.
'No poder más' is a Spanish phrase that literally translates to 'no more power' in English. However, in actual usage, it is often used to express extreme tiredness or exhaustion, not unlike the English phrase 'cannot take it anymore' or 'cannot go on'. Therefore, it's important to consider the context in which the phrase is used for a more accurate translation.
no ver tres en un burro
to be as blind as a bat
The Spanish idiom 'no ver tres en un burro' is often used informally to describe someone who has poor eyesight or doesn't observe things well. This phrase literally translates to 'not to see three on a donkey', but the equivalent expression in English would be 'to be as blind as a bat'.
oír
hear
The word 'oír' is a verb in Spanish that is equivalent to 'hear' in English. It is used to refer to the act of perceiving sounds through the ear. For instance, you might use it in a sentence like 'Puedo oír el sonido de la lluvia', meaning 'I can hear the sound of the rain'.
Example sentences with oír →olfato
smell
The Spanish word 'olfato' translates to 'smell' in English. It is primarily used in the context of describing the sense involved in perceiving odors or scents. Notably, 'olfato' can refer to both the physical sense of smell itself (the ability), and the organ related to that sense (the nose), depending on the context in which it is used. It is an important word in Spanish vocabulary that is commonly used in daily conversation and literature.
pasar un calor espantoso
to spend a terrible heat
The phrase 'pasar un calor espantoso' is a Spanish expression that, when directly translated to English, means 'to spend a terrible heat'. However, in context, it's used to express the experience of extremely hot and uncomfortable weather conditions. An English equivalent might be 'to suffer in the sweltering heat'. The phrase is often used when someone is experiencing, or has experienced, particularly hot weather that is uncomfortable or unbearable.
pasar un frío espantoso
to have a terrible cold
The Spanish phrase 'pasar un frío espantoso' can be translated to English as 'to have a terrible cold'. It is often used in a context where someone is experiencing extremely cold weather and they are feeling very cold and possibly uncomfortable. This phrase represents an expression and just like many other expressions, it should not be translated word for word, but rather understanding the overall meaning of the phrase is more important.
pasar un frío horrible
to spend a horrible cold
The phrase 'pasar un frío horrible' in Spanish translates to 'to spend a horrible cold' in English. This phrase is often used in situations where someone has experienced, or is currently undergoing, severely cold weather conditions. It can be used to express physical discomfort due to the cold, or to emphasize the extreme cold of a particular situation or place. It's important to note that this phrase carries a negative, informal, and somewhat hyperbolic connotation.
poner la carne de gallina
to get goosebumps
The Spanish phrase 'poner la carne de gallina' translates to 'to get goosebumps' in English. This is a figurative phrase that describes the physical reaction of the skin when a person is cold, scared, or excited. In these situations, small bumps appear on the skin, similar to the skin of a plucked goose. Hence, in English it's known as getting 'goosebumps', whereas in Spanish it is 'poner la carne de gallina', which literally means 'to make the skin like chicken's'.
poner la piel de gallina
to have goosebumps
Poner la piel de gallina is a Spanish term that is directly translated as 'to put the skin of the chicken'. However, in English meaning, it refers to 'having goosebumps'. This phrase is usually used when referring to experiencing a strong emotion such as fear, awe, surprise, nostalgia, or excitement that causes the hairs on your skin to stand up, which is visually similar to the skin of a plucked goose or chicken.
poner los pelos de punta
to make your hair stand on end
The Spanish phrase 'poner los pelos de punta' is equivalent to the English idiom 'make your hair stand on end'. This is an expression used to convey a strong emotional response, such as fear, surprise, or excitement, that is so intense it could hypothetically cause the physical reaction of one's hair standing upright, as when experiencing static electricity. This idiom is regularly employed in both casual and formal conversations and is typically used in response to thrilling or chilling narratives and situations.
ruborizarse
blushing
The Spanish word 'ruborizarse' translates to 'blushing' in English. This is a reflexive verb, frequently used to describe the act of turning red in the face, especially as a result of embarrassment, shame, or modesty. It is an involuntary reaction that typically occurs due to emotional stress associated with passion, embarrassment, shyness or anger.
sentir calor
feel warm
The Spanish phrase 'sentir calor' translates to 'feel warm' in English. This phrase can be used in various contexts when someone is experiencing a sensation of warmth or heat. For example, after spending some time under the sun, one might 'sentir calor'. It can also be used metaphorically to express emotional warmth or comfort. Keep in mind 'sentir' means 'to feel' and 'calor' means 'heat' or 'warmth' in English.
sentir frío
feel cold
The Spanish phrase 'sentir frío' translates to 'feel cold' in English. It is used in situations to describe the physical sensation of cold, similar to how it is used in English. For instance, if you are out in cold weather without adequate clothing you would 'sentir frío'.
sentir hambre
feel hungry
The phrase 'sentir hambre' in Spanish translates to 'feel hungry' in English. It is most commonly used to express the physical sensation of hunger. This phrase is made up of a verb 'sentir' that means 'to feel' and a noun 'hambre' that refers to 'hunger'. Being a common phrase, it is widely used in both casual and formal contexts.
sentir malestar
feel discomfort
The Spanish term 'sentir malestar' translates to 'feel discomfort' in English. It is an action phrase often used to describe a physical or emotional feeling of unease or discomfort. For instance, you can use it when you are not feeling well health-wise, or when you are in a situation that makes you feel uncomfortable or uneasy.
sentir náuseas
feel nauseous
The Spanish phrase 'sentir náuseas' translates into English as 'feel nauseous'. This is a verb phrase used to describe the physical sensation of discomfort in the stomach, usually preceding vomiting. It is often used in a medical context or to describe feeling sick from motion (as in a car or boat), excessive eating, or from a reaction to unpleasant sights or smells.
sentir sed
feel thirsty
The Spanish phrase 'sentir sed' translates to 'feel thirsty' in English. This is a commonly used phrase to express one's desire to drink something, much like the English equivalent. It combines the verb 'sentir' which means 'to feel' and the noun 'sed' which means 'thirst'. Together, they form a phrase often used in day-to-day conversation in Spanish-speaking nations.
sentir sueño
feel sleep
The Spanish phrase 'sentir sueño' translates to 'feel sleep' in English. This is essentially used to convey the feeling of being sleepy or tired. In other words, when someone says 'siento sueño' in Spanish, they are expressing that they are feeling sleepy or that they are tired. This phrase is generally used in the context where one is expressing their physical state, particularly when it's near bedtime or after a long day. As with many idioms, the literal translation may not offer the exact idea of its actual meaning.
sentir un calor horrible
feel a terrible heat
The Spanish phrase 'sentir un calor horrible' translates to 'feel a terrible heat' in English. This is typically used to describe an overwhelming sensation of heat, either due to weather or high temperatures in a specific area. It can be used both literally, for example when it's extremely hot outside, or metaphorically, to express a high level of pressure or stress.
sentir un frío horrible
feel a terrible cold
The Spanish phrase 'sentir un frío horrible' translates to 'feel a terrible cold' in English. It can be used to describe an extreme feeling of coldness, often relating to weather conditions or a person’s health status. This phrase is typically used in situations where the level of cold felt is very intense or uncomfortable.
sentirse bien
Feeling good
The Spanish term 'sentirse bien' translates to 'feeling good' in English. It is a reflexive verb phrase used to express a state of physical or mental well-being. For instance, one might use 'sentirse bien' to explain a recovery from illness or a positive emotional state. The phrase is formed from the reflexive verb 'sentirse', meaning 'to feel oneself', combined with 'bien', which translates as 'good' or 'well'.
sentirse fatigado
feeling fatigued
The Spanish phrase 'sentirse fatigado' translates to 'feeling fatigued' in English. This term is used when someone is experiencing a state of mental or physical tiredness resulting from exertion, disease, or emotional stress. It often implies a need for rest or relief. In Spanish, the verb 'sentirse' is a reflexive form of 'sentir' (to feel) and 'fatigado' is an adjective meaning tired or fatigued.
sentirse hecho polvo
to feel knackered
The phrase 'sentirse hecho polvo' in Spanish directly translates to 'feel made dust' in English. However, colloquially, it is often used to express feeling exhausted or extremely tired, similar to the English idiom of feeling knackered. Depending on context, it can also convey feelings of being demotivated or downhearted.