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B1 adjective #4,000 le plus courant 9 min de lecture

mareado

Top 4,000

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces mareado en 30 secondes

Explication mareado in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know that 'mareado' means you feel 'not good' in your head or stomach after moving. You use it with 'estoy' (I am). For example: 'Estoy mareado' (I am dizzy). It is important to remember that if you are a woman, you say 'mareada'. You usually learn this word when talking about traveling by car or bus. It is a simple state, like being 'cansado' (tired) or 'contento' (happy). You don't need to know complex grammar, just how to say you feel this way so people can help you. Think of it as a 'red flag' word for when you need to sit down.

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At A2, you start to use 'mareado' in more specific contexts, like 'mareado por el viaje' (dizzy from the trip). You understand that it comes from the word 'mar' (sea). You can also use the verb 'sentirse' (to feel) instead of just 'estar'. You might say 'Me siento un poco mareada'. You also learn to use it in the plural: 'Mis hijos están mareados'. At this level, you can describe why you are dizzy, using simple connectors like 'porque' (because). For example: 'Estoy mareado porque el coche va muy rápido'. You also begin to recognize the reflexive verb 'marearse' (to get dizzy).

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At the B1 level, 'mareado' is a key part of your medical and travel vocabulary. You can distinguish between 'estar mareado' (the state) and 'marearse' (the action). You use it to describe more complex situations, such as side effects of medicine or reactions to strong smells. You also start to see the word used figuratively, such as 'marear a alguien' (to confuse or annoy someone by talking too much). You are comfortable with gender and number agreement and can use it in various tenses: 'Estuve mareado todo el día' (I was dizzy all day). You also learn related nouns like 'el mareo' (the dizziness).

At B2, you use 'mareado' with more nuance and idiomatic flair. You might use the expression 'estar más mareado que una perdiz' to mean you are extremely confused or dizzy. You understand the difference between 'mareado' and 'vértigo' or 'aturdido'. You can use it in professional settings, like explaining a physical condition to a doctor with precision. You also understand how the word can be used to describe a dizzying pace of life or a confusing legal document. Your use of prepositions with the word is more accurate, such as 'mareado de tanto leer' (dizzy from reading so much).

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At the C1 level, 'mareado' becomes a tool for expressive and literary description. You use it to describe existential confusion or the overwhelming nature of a complex city. You might use it in a metaphorical sense in an essay to describe the 'dizzying' changes in modern technology. You are aware of regional variations in how the word is used and can pick up on subtle connotations in literature where 'mareado' might imply a character's weakness or emotional instability. You also master the causative use: 'La situación me tiene mareado' (The situation has me feeling dizzy/overwhelmed).

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At the C2 level, you have a complete command of 'mareado' in all its forms. You can use it in academic discussions about the etymology of maritime terms in Spanish. You understand its role in classical literature and can use it with perfect precision in any register, from slang to formal medical discourse. You might use it to describe the 'vórtice mareado' (dizzying vortex) of a political crisis. You can play with the word's roots and its evolution, and you are fully aware of how it interacts with other similar terms like 'desvanecimiento' or 'obnubilación' in a technical context.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

mareado en 30 secondes

Mareado is the primary Spanish adjective for 'dizzy' or 'nauseous,' often used for motion sickness.
It comes from the word 'mar' (sea), originally meaning 'seasick,' but now used for any dizziness.
Always use 'estar' or 'sentirse' with this word, never 'ser,' as it describes a temporary state.
Remember to change the ending to -a, -os, or -as to match the gender and number of the person.

The Spanish word mareado is a versatile adjective that primarily describes a physical state of equilibrium disruption. At its core, it translates to 'dizzy' or 'nauseous,' but its etymological roots provide a fascinating glimpse into how the Spanish language perceives physical discomfort. Derived from the word mar (sea), it originally referred specifically to the sensation of seasickness. Over centuries, the usage expanded to encompass any form of lightheadedness, vertigo, or the queasy feeling one gets in a moving vehicle, after spinning around, or due to illness.

The Physical Sensation: It describes that specific moment when the world seems to spin, or when your stomach feels unsettled. It is the go-to word for motion sickness in cars (mareo por movimiento), planes, or trains.
The Figurative Confusion: Beyond physical sickness, being 'mareado' can imply being overwhelmed by too much information or being led in circles by someone's confusing explanations.

Después de tres horas en el barco, Pedro estaba completamente mareado y tuvo que sentarse.

Translation: After three hours on the boat, Pedro was completely seasick and had to sit down.

In daily life, you will hear this word in pharmacies, doctor's offices, and during travel. It is essential to remember that since it is an adjective, it must agree in gender and number with the person it describes: mareado (masculine singular), mareada (feminine singular), mareados (masculine plural), and mareadas (feminine plural). It is almost exclusively used with the verb estar because it describes a temporary state or condition, not a permanent characteristic of a person.

No leas en el coche o terminarás mareada.

Common Contexts: 1. Pregnancy (morning sickness). 2. Post-surgery (anesthesia effects). 3. Theme parks (rollercoasters). 4. Dehydration or low blood sugar.

Ultimately, 'mareado' is one of the first health-related adjectives learners should master because it covers a broad spectrum of common human experiences. Whether you've stood up too fast, spent too long on a winding mountain road, or are feeling the effects of a flu, this word is your primary tool for communicating that loss of internal balance.

Mastering the use of mareado involves understanding its grammatical behavior and the specific verbs it pairs with. As an adjective of state, its primary partner is the verb estar. Unlike English, where we 'feel dizzy,' Spanish speakers often say they 'are dizzy' (estoy mareado), though 'sentirse' (to feel) is also perfectly correct and very common.

Agreement with Subjects: Because it is a standard adjective, you must change the ending.
- Juan está mareado.
- María está mareada.
- Nosotros estamos mareados.
- Las niñas están mareadas.

Si sigues dando vueltas así, te vas a quedar mareado.

If you keep spinning like that, you're going to end up dizzy.

When using the verb sentirse, the sentence structure remains the same as with other emotions or physical states. 'Me siento mareado' is a very common way to report symptoms to a doctor. It sounds slightly more subjective than 'Estoy mareado,' focusing on the internal sensation rather than the observable state.

La paciente dice que se siente mareada desde esta mañana.

Another important construction is the use of quedarse (to become/to be left). This is used when the dizziness is a result of a specific event. 'Me quedé mareado después del golpe' (I was left dizzy after the hit). This emphasizes the transition from a normal state to a dizzy one.

Using with 'Poner': While less common than 'marearse,' you can say 'Eso me pone mareado' (That makes me dizzy), though usually, a native speaker would prefer 'Eso me marea'.

¿Estás mareado por la altura de la montaña?

In professional settings, like a medical report, you might see the noun form 'mareo' (dizziness) used more frequently than the adjective, but 'mareado' remains the standard for patient interaction. Understanding these nuances allows you to express your physical condition accurately and respond to others' needs effectively in a variety of Spanish-speaking environments.

The word mareado is ubiquitous in any environment involving movement or physical health. Its most frequent 'natural habitat' is during travel. If you are on a ferry crossing from Spain to Morocco or taking a winding bus ride through the Andes, you will inevitably hear someone whisper, 'Estoy un poco mareado'. It is a shared human experience that transcends borders, making it a vital part of a traveler's vocabulary.

At the Pharmacy (La Farmacia): When asking for motion sickness pills (like Biodramina in Spain), you'll explain: 'Me pongo mareado en los barcos' (I get seasick on boats). The pharmacist will immediately know what you need.
Amusement Parks (Parques de Atracciones): After a ride on a rollercoaster or the 'teacups,' you'll see teenagers and parents alike saying they are 'mareados' as they look for a bench to sit on.

¡Bájame de aquí! Estoy muy mareada.

Get me down from here! I am very dizzy.

In a medical context, doctors use it to differentiate between true vertigo (the room spinning) and general lightheadedness. They might ask, '¿Se siente mareado al levantarse?' (Do you feel dizzy when getting up?). This distinction is crucial for diagnosis. You'll also hear it in sports, specifically boxing or soccer, if a player takes a hard hit to the head. A coach might ask, '¿Estás mareado?' to check for signs of a concussion.

El olor a pintura me tiene mareado.

The smell of paint has me feeling dizzy/nauseous.

Socially, you might hear it used jokingly. If someone is talking too fast or jumping from topic to topic, a friend might say, '¡Para, que me estás mareando!' (Stop, you're making me dizzy/confused!). This colloquial use is very common in Spain and Latin America to tell someone to stop being confusing or annoying.

In Literature and Film: Dramatic scenes involving poison, fainting spells, or overwhelming romance often utilize 'mareado' to convey a character's loss of control over their physical senses.

La luz del sol era tan fuerte que me dejó mareado.

For English speakers, using mareado correctly requires navigating a few linguistic pitfalls. The most common error involves the choice of the 'to be' verb. Because 'dizzy' feels like a quality in English, students often reach for ser. However, being dizzy is a temporary state, so estar is mandatory. Saying 'Soy mareado' would imply that you are a 'dizzy person' by nature, which makes little sense in Spanish.

Mistake #1: Using 'Ser' instead of 'Estar': Incorrect: Soy mareado por el barco.
Correct: Estoy mareado por el barco.
Reason: It is a temporary condition, not a personality trait.
Mistake #2: Forgetting Gender Agreement: Incorrect: Mi hermana está mareado.
Correct: Mi hermana está mareada.
Reason: Adjectives must match the gender of the subject.

No es que sea mareado, es que el viaje fue muy largo.

Note: Here 'sea' is used to negate a permanent trait, but it's rare.

Another frequent mistake is confusing mareado with enfermo (sick). While nausea is a form of being sick, 'enfermo' is much broader. If you have the flu, you are 'enfermo.' If you feel like you might throw up because of a car ride, you are 'mareado.' Using 'enfermo' in a car might lead someone to think you have a virus rather than motion sickness.

A subtle mistake involves the use of the reflexive verb marearse vs. the adjective mareado. English speakers often say 'I am getting dizzy' and try to translate it literally. While 'Me estoy poniendo mareado' is possible, the natural Spanish way is 'Me estoy mareando'. Using the reflexive verb is almost always more idiomatic for the process of becoming dizzy.

Mistake #3: Overusing 'Muy' with 'Mareado': While 'muy mareado' is correct, Spanish speakers often use 'fatal' or 'malísimo' to express extreme dizziness. 'Estoy fatal del mareo' sounds very native.

Me siento mareado, no borracho.

I feel dizzy, not drunk.

While mareado is the most common term for dizziness, Spanish offers a rich palette of synonyms and related terms that can add precision to your descriptions. Depending on whether you feel like the room is spinning, you're about to faint, or you're just a bit hazy, different words might be more appropriate.

Aturdido (Stunned/Dazed): This describes a mental fog or confusion, often after a shock or a loud noise. If 'mareado' is physical spinning, 'aturdido' is mental cloudiness.
Example: El ruido me dejó aturdido.
Desorientado (Disoriented): Used when you've lost your sense of direction. While 'mareado' often causes this, 'desorientado' focuses on the lack of spatial awareness.
Nauseabundo (Nauseating): This describes something that *causes* the dizziness or queasiness. It is usually applied to smells or sights.
Example: Un olor nauseabundo.

Me dio vértigo mirar hacia abajo desde el balcón.

Note: Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness related to heights.

Another important distinction is desmayado (fainted). If you are 'mareado,' you are still conscious but feeling unwell. If you are 'desmayado,' you have lost consciousness. If you feel like you are *about* to faint, you would say 'Siento que me voy a desmayar' or 'Estoy desvanecido' (though the latter is more literary).

Después del accidente, el conductor estaba aturdido pero no mareado.

In some regions, you might hear the word con el estómago revuelto (with an upset stomach). This is a more colloquial way to describe the 'nausea' aspect of being 'mareado.' In Mexico, the term asqueado can sometimes be used for extreme nausea, though it often implies disgust as well. Understanding these alternatives helps you tailor your speech to the intensity and specific nature of what you are feeling.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

Because 'mareado' comes from 'mar', it shows how central maritime travel was to the Spanish experience; the word for 'seasick' eventually became the word for all types of dizziness.

Guide de prononciation

UK /ma.ɾe.ˈa.ðo/

US /mɑ.re.ˈɑ.doʊ/

The stress is on the penultimate syllable 'a' (ma-re-A-do).

Rime avec

empleado cansado pesado dorado cuidado llamado estado pasado

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing the 'r' as an English 'r' (retroflex).
Making the 'd' too hard like a 'd' in 'dog'.
Failing to change the ending for feminine subjects.
Adding an 's' to the singular form.
Misplacing the stress on the 're' syllable.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

Easy to recognize due to common root 'mar'.

Écriture 3/5

Requires remembering gender and number agreement.

Expression orale 3/5

Soft 'd' and tapped 'r' require practice for native sound.

Écoute 2/5

Distinct sound, usually easy to pick out in context.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

mar estar sentirse enfermo mal

Apprends ensuite

vértigo náuseas desmayarse aturdido pálido

Avancé

obnubilado cinetosis laberintitis vaivén

Grammaire à connaître

Adjective Agreement

La niña está mareada / Los niños están mareados.

Ser vs Estar with physical states

Estoy mareado (Correct) / Soy mareado (Incorrect).

Reflexive Verbs for changes in state

Me mareo (I get dizzy).

Prepositions of cause (por/de)

Mareado por el calor / Mareado de hambre.

Causative Verbs

Esto me marea (This makes me dizzy).

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Exemples par niveau

Estoy mareado.

I am dizzy.

Uses 'estar' for a temporary state.

Ella está mareada.

She is dizzy.

Feminine agreement (mareada).

¿Estás mareado?

Are you dizzy?

Question form.

No estoy mareado.

I am not dizzy.

Negative sentence.

El niño está mareado.

The boy is dizzy.

Masculine singular.

Estamos mareados por el bus.

We are dizzy from the bus.

Plural agreement.

Me siento mareada.

I feel dizzy.

Uses 'sentirse' instead of 'estar'.

¿Por qué estás mareado?

Why are you dizzy?

Interrogative with 'por qué'.

Siempre me pongo mareado en el barco.

I always get seasick on the boat.

Reflexive 'ponerse' describes the change.

Juan está mareado porque no comió nada.

Juan is dizzy because he didn't eat anything.

Cause indicated by 'porque'.

Las niñas están mareadas después de jugar.

The girls are dizzy after playing.

Feminine plural agreement.

Si lees en el coche, estarás mareado.

If you read in the car, you will be dizzy.

Future tense of 'estar'.

Mi madre se siente mareada con este calor.

My mother feels dizzy with this heat.

Preposition 'con' used for cause.

¿Sigues mareado o ya estás mejor?

Are you still dizzy or are you better now?

Use of 'seguir' to indicate duration.

El viaje fue largo y terminamos mareados.

The trip was long and we ended up dizzy.

Use of 'terminar' to show result.

Toma agua si estás mareado.

Drink water if you are dizzy.

Imperative 'toma' with conditional 'si'.

Me quedé mareado después de levantarme tan rápido.

I was left dizzy after getting up so fast.

'Quedarse' indicates a resulting state.

Es normal sentirse un poco mareado tras la anestesia.

It's normal to feel a bit dizzy after anesthesia.

Infinitive 'sentirse' as subject.

No me gusta esta atracción, me deja muy mareada.

I don't like this ride; it leaves me very dizzy.

Causative 'dejar' (to leave someone in a state).

Ayer estuve mareado todo el día por la medicación.

Yesterday I was dizzy all day because of the medication.

Preterite tense of 'estar'.

Si te sientes mareado, deberías sentarte un momento.

If you feel dizzy, you should sit down for a moment.

Conditional 'deberías'.

El olor de la pintura me tiene mareado.

The smell of the paint has me feeling dizzy.

Causative 'tener' + adjective.

¿Te has sentido mareado alguna vez en un avión?

Have you ever felt dizzy on a plane?

Present perfect tense.

Aunque estaba mareado, continuó trabajando.

Even though he was dizzy, he continued working.

Concessive clause with 'aunque'.

La altura de la ciudad me dejó completamente mareado.

The city's altitude left me completely dizzy.

Altitude sickness context.

Estaba más mareado que una perdiz tras tantas vueltas.

I was as dizzy as a partridge after so many turns.

Idiomatic expression.

Se sentía mareada por la cantidad de información recibida.

She felt dizzy from the amount of information received.

Figurative use of 'mareada'.

Es posible que te sientas mareado al principio del tratamiento.

It is possible that you feel dizzy at the beginning of the treatment.

Subjunctive mood after 'es posible que'.

A pesar de estar mareado, mantuvo el equilibrio.

Despite being dizzy, he kept his balance.

'A pesar de' + infinitive.

Me mareo solo de pensar en ese viaje en barco.

I get dizzy just thinking about that boat trip.

Reflexive verb 'marearse'.

El paciente refirió estar mareado y tener visión borrosa.

The patient reported being dizzy and having blurred vision.

Formal reporting verb 'referir'.

No me marees con tantos detalles innecesarios.

Don't confuse/dizzy me with so many unnecessary details.

Imperative of 'marear' (to confuse).

El ritmo vertiginoso de la bolsa me tiene mareado.

The dizzying pace of the stock market has me overwhelmed.

Metaphorical use in finance.

Se hallaba mareada ante la magnitud de su descubrimiento.

She found herself dizzy before the magnitude of her discovery.

Literary 'hallarse' + adjective.

Tras la explosión, los supervivientes deambulaban mareados.

After the explosion, the survivors wandered around dazed/dizzy.

Adjective as an adverbial adjunct.

Me quedé mareado por la complejidad del texto legal.

I was left dizzy by the complexity of the legal text.

Figurative use for mental confusion.

Cualquier persona se sentiría mareada en esta situación política.

Anyone would feel dizzy in this political situation.

Conditional mood.

El aroma era tan intenso que me dejó ligeramente mareado.

The aroma was so intense that it left me slightly dizzy.

Sensory description.

A menudo se confunde estar mareado con tener vértigo real.

Being dizzy is often confused with having real vertigo.

Passive 'se confunde'.

Incluso los marineros más experimentados pueden acabar mareados.

Even the most experienced sailors can end up seasick.

Concessive 'incluso'.

La lectura de su obra me sumió en un estado mareado y onírico.

Reading his work plunged me into a dizzy and dreamlike state.

Highly literary register.

Se siente mareado por el abismo existencial que se abre ante él.

He feels dizzy from the existential abyss opening before him.

Philosophical context.

El discurso, lleno de retórica vacía, dejó al público mareado.

The speech, full of empty rhetoric, left the audience confused/dizzy.

Abstract causative.

No es que esté mareado físicamente, sino que la noticia me ha descolocado.

It's not that I'm physically dizzy, but the news has unsettled me.

Contrastive use with 'sino'.

Me resulta imposible no estar mareado ante tal despliegue de opulencia.

I find it impossible not to be dizzy before such a display of opulence.

Expression 'me resulta imposible'.

El vaivén de la política internacional tiene mareados a los analistas.

The back-and-forth of international politics has analysts dizzy.

Metaphorical 'vaivén' (swaying).

Aquel aroma rancio me dejó mareado y con náuseas profundas.

That rancid aroma left me dizzy and with deep nausea.

Sensory precision.

La rapidez de los cambios tecnológicos nos tiene a todos mareados.

The speed of technological changes has us all dizzy.

Societal commentary.

Collocations courantes

estar mareado

sentirse mareado

mareado por el viaje

quedarse mareado

ligeramente mareado

completamente mareado

mareado por el calor

mareado por el olor

caer mareado

despertar mareado

Phrases Courantes

¡Qué mareo!

— What a dizzy feeling! Used when experiencing a sudden spell of dizziness.

¡Qué mareo me ha dado al levantarme!

Mareado de tanto esperar

— Metaphorical phrase for being tired or frustrated by a long wait.

Me tienen mareado de tanto esperar en esta oficina.

No me marees

— Don't confuse me or don't annoy me with nonsense.

Dime la verdad y no me marees más.

Pastillas para el mareo

— Motion sickness pills.

Compré pastillas para el mareo antes del crucero.

Mareado por la altura

— Suffering from altitude sickness.

En los Andes es común estar mareado por la altura.

Un poco mareado

— A bit dizzy. Very common soft way to report the feeling.

Solo estoy un poco mareado, no te preocupes.

Mareado perdido

— Extremely dizzy or completely confused.

Después de la fiesta estaba mareado perdido.

Sentirse mareado al agacharse

— Feeling dizzy when bending down.

Me siento mareado al agacharme a por las llaves.

Estar mareado por el hambre

— Being dizzy due to lack of food.

Si no desayunas, estarás mareado por el hambre.

Amanecer mareado

— To wake up feeling dizzy.

Amanecí mareada y con dolor de cabeza.

Souvent confondu avec

mareado vs borracho

Borracho means drunk. While a drunk person is mareado, they are not the same thing.

mareado vs enfermo

Enfermo is 'sick' in general (flu, infection). Mareado is specifically dizzy/nauseous.

mareado vs cansado

Cansado is tired. Sometimes people feel dizzy when tired, but use the specific word.

Expressions idiomatiques

"Estar más mareado que una perdiz"

— To be extremely dizzy or very confused. Originates from the way partridges act when hunted.

Después de tanto papeleo, estoy más mareado que una perdiz.

Informal

"Marear la perdiz"

— To beat around the bush or waste time without getting to the point.

Deja de marear la perdiz y dime cuánto cuesta.

Informal

"Tener a alguien mareado"

— To keep someone waiting or to confuse them with contradictory information.

El jefe me tiene mareado con tantos cambios de planes.

Neutral

"Marearse en un vaso de agua"

— To get overwhelmed by a very small problem.

No te preocupes por eso, te mareas en un vaso de agua.

Informal

"Salir mareado"

— To leave a place feeling overwhelmed or confused.

Salí mareado de esa reunión tan larga.

Neutral

"Mareado de éxito"

— To be 'dizzy with success' (overwhelmed or arrogant due to achievements).

El actor está un poco mareado de tanto éxito repentino.

Literary

"Poner mareado"

— To make someone dizzy or to annoy them significantly.

Ese ruido constante me pone mareado.

Neutral

"Ni mareado"

— Not even if I were dizzy (used to emphasize rejection of something).

No vuelvo a ese restaurante ni mareado.

Slang

"Mareado por las vueltas de la vida"

— Overwhelmed by life's changes or events.

A veces uno termina mareado por las vueltas de la vida.

Poetic

"Estar mareado de poder"

— To be intoxicated or blinded by power.

El dictador estaba mareado de poder.

Formal

Facile à confondre

mareado vs marinado

Sounds similar.

Marinado means 'marinated' (food). Mareado means 'dizzy'.

El pollo está marinado, pero yo estoy mareado.

mareado vs morado

Rhymes.

Morado means 'purple'.

Tengo un moratón morado y estoy mareado.

mareado vs mirado

Similar structure.

Mirado is the past participle of 'mirar' (to look).

He mirado el mar y me he mareado.

mareado vs parado

Rhymes.

Parado means 'stopped' or 'standing'.

Estoy parado porque estoy mareado.

mareado vs marcado

Similar sound.

Marcado means 'marked'.

El camino está marcado, pero sigo mareado.

Structures de phrases

Yo estoy [adjetivo].

Yo estoy mareado.

Me siento [adjetivo] por [causa].

Me siento mareada por el sol.

Si [condición], estaré [adjetivo].

Si subo ahí, estaré mareado.

[Sustantivo] me deja [adjetivo].

El barco me deja mareado.

Estar más [adjetivo] que [comparación].

Estar más mareado que una perdiz.

[Sustantivo] tiene a [alguien] [adjetivo].

La situación tiene a todos mareados.

Resultar imposible no estar [adjetivo] ante [causa].

Resulta imposible no estar mareado ante tal caos.

Sumir a alguien en un estado [adjetivo].

La noticia me sumió en un estado mareado.

Famille de mots

Noms

el mareo (dizziness/nausea)

la marejada (heavy sea/swell)

el maremoto (seaquake)

Verbes

marear (to make dizzy/annoy)

marearse (to get dizzy/seasick)

Adjectifs

mareado (dizzy)

mareante (dizzying/annoying)

Apparenté

el mar (sea)

marino (marine)

marinero (sailor)

mariscos (seafood)

marítimo (maritime)

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Very high in daily conversation, travel, and medical contexts.

Erreurs courantes

Using 'ser' with mareado. → Estoy mareado.
Physical states are temporary and use 'estar'.
Mi madre está mareado. → Mi madre está mareada.
Adjectives must agree with the feminine subject.
Estoy mareado por el barco (when meaning 'sick with flu'). → Estoy enfermo.
Mareado is specifically for dizziness/nausea.
Me pongo mareado (instead of me mareo). → Me mareo.
The reflexive verb is usually more idiomatic for the action.
El olor es mareado. → El olor es nauseabundo.
Objects/smells aren't 'mareado', they *cause* you to be mareado.

Astuces

Gender Agreement

Always remember to match the ending to the person. This is the most common mistake for beginners.

Travel Tip

If you are in a taxi and feel sick, say 'Pare, por favor, estoy mareado'. It is an important safety phrase.

Reflexive Action

Learn 'marearse' as a verb. It's often more natural than using the adjective in sentences about movement.

Altitude

If you visit Mexico City or Bogotá, you will likely feel 'mareado' on your first day. It's normal!

Sea Connection

Remember the word 'mar' (sea) inside 'mareado'. It makes the meaning much easier to recall.

The Soft D

Practice the 'd' in 'mareado' as a very soft sound. It shouldn't sound like the English 'd' in 'dad'.

Polite Annoyance

Use 'no me marees' carefully; it's a bit informal and can be rude if said to the wrong person.

Doctor Visits

If a doctor asks '¿Está mareado?', they are asking about your balance and stomach.

The Partridge

Try using 'mareado como una perdiz' to sound more like a native speaker when you are very confused.

Dropped D

In Spain, you might hear 'mareao'. This is the same word, just with the 'd' dropped in informal speech.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of being 'MAR-eado' as being lost at 'MAR' (sea). When you are at sea, you get dizzy!

Association visuelle

Imagine a sailor (marinero) on a rocking boat in the middle of the sea (mar) looking green and dizzy (mareado).

Word Web

Mar Barco Olas Náuseas Vértigo Estar Sentirse Marearse

Défi

Try to use 'mareado' three times today: once for a physical feeling, once for travel, and once for being confused by a task.

Origine du mot

Derived from the Spanish noun 'mar' (sea).

Sens originel : Originally meant 'seasick' (pertaining to the sea).

Romance (Latin root 'mare').

Contexte culturel

No major sensitivities, but be careful not to confuse it with 'borracho' (drunk) as it can be offensive to imply someone is intoxicated when they are just feeling unwell.

In English, we often use 'sick' for both illness and nausea. In Spanish, 'mareado' is specifically for the dizzy/queasy feeling, while 'enfermo' is for being unwell in general.

The song 'Mareado' by various Latin artists. The concept of 'vértigo' in literature (Borges, Cortázar). Common scenes in Telenovelas where a character feels 'mareada' as a hint they might be pregnant.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Travel

Me mareo en el bus.
Necesito una bolsa.
Para el coche, por favor.
¿Tienes pastillas?

Medical

Me siento mareado.
Todo me da vueltas.
Me mareo al levantarme.
Tengo náuseas.

Theme Park

Esa atracción marea.
Estoy muy mareada.
No quiero subir.
Vamos a sentarnos.

Heat/Weather

Hace mucho calor.
Me estoy mareando.
Necesito sombra.
Bebamos agua.

Social/Confusion

No me marees.
Estoy mareado de tanto hablar.
Me mareas con tus cambios.
¡Qué mareo de sitio!

Amorces de conversation

"¿Alguna vez te has sentido mareado en un barco de crucero?"

"¿Qué haces tú cuando estás mareado en el coche?"

"¿Te pones mareado si lees mientras viajas?"

"¿Prefieres sentarte delante o detrás para no estar mareado?"

"¿Cuál es la atracción que más mareado te ha dejado?"

Sujets d'écriture

Describe una vez que estuviste muy mareado. ¿Qué pasó y cómo te sentiste?

Escribe sobre un viaje largo donde alguien se sintió mareado.

¿Crees que es peor estar mareado por el mar o por el coche? ¿Por qué?

Imagina que eres un médico. Da consejos a un paciente que siempre está mareado.

Describe el sentimiento de estar 'mareado' de forma metafórica sobre tu vida actual.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Yes, 'mareada' is the standard way to describe the nausea felt during pregnancy in Spanish.

Both are used. 'Por' usually indicates the cause (por el viaje), while 'de' is often used with 'tanto' (de tanto girar).

No, it can also mean nauseous (queasy stomach), especially in the context of motion sickness.

You should use the reflexive verb: 'Me estoy mareando'.

Yes, it is a universal term used throughout Spain and Latin America.

No, you would describe the smell as 'nauseabundo' or say 'el olor me marea'.

Yes, 'vértigo' is the specific sensation of spinning, while 'mareado' is more general.

No, you should say 'Me mareo fácilmente' or 'Suelo estar mareado en los coches'.

There isn't one perfect word, but 'estable' or 'bien' are commonly used as opposites.

Yes, though the specific term 'soroche' is also used in the Andes.

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