Meaning
To process food in the stomach and intestines after eating.
Cultural Background
The 'corte de digestión' is a national obsession. It's the belief that a sudden change in temperature (like jumping into a cold pool) will stop your digestion and cause a fatal shock. Doctors call it hydrocution, but every Spaniard knows it as 'corte de digestión'. After a large 'asado' (barbecue), 'hacer la digestión' is often accompanied by a long 'sobremesa' where people talk for hours while the body processes the meat. While 'hacer la digestión' is used, 'reposar la comida' is equally common. It emphasizes the stillness required after eating spicy or heavy foods. The phrase is linked to the 'siesta'. The biological 'alkaline tide' (post-meal sleepiness) is culturally respected as the time the body is 'making the digestion'.
Use it as an excuse
In Spain, 'estoy haciendo la digestión' is a perfectly valid reason to not do anything productive for an hour.
Don't forget the 'LA'
Saying 'hacer digestión' sounds like a robot. Always use 'la digestión'.
Meaning
To process food in the stomach and intestines after eating.
Use it as an excuse
In Spain, 'estoy haciendo la digestión' is a perfectly valid reason to not do anything productive for an hour.
Don't forget the 'LA'
Saying 'hacer digestión' sounds like a robot. Always use 'la digestión'.
The 2-hour rule
If you are at a beach in Spain, wait 2 hours. Even if you don't believe in the myth, it's part of the local 'vibe'.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'hacer la digestión'.
Ayer comí tanto que me costó mucho ______.
After 'costó mucho', we need the infinitive form.
Which sentence is more natural for a native speaker?
After a big meal, you want to tell your friend you need to rest.
'Hacer la digestión' is the standard collocation for this state.
Complete the dialogue.
Madre: ¡No entres al agua todavía! Hijo: ¿Por qué? Madre: Porque acabas de comer y tienes que _______.
This is the classic warning parents give at the beach.
Match the phrase to the context.
Context: You are at a doctor's office explaining chronic stomach pain.
This is the most appropriate way to describe pain during the process.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
When to say 'Hacer la digestión'
At the Beach
- • Waiting to swim
- • Sitting in shade
- • Warning kids
At Home
- • After lunch
- • On the sofa
- • Before a siesta
Practice Bank
4 exercisesAyer comí tanto que me costó mucho ______.
After 'costó mucho', we need the infinitive form.
After a big meal, you want to tell your friend you need to rest.
'Hacer la digestión' is the standard collocation for this state.
Madre: ¡No entres al agua todavía! Hijo: ¿Por qué? Madre: Porque acabas de comer y tienes que _______.
This is the classic warning parents give at the beach.
Context: You are at a doctor's office explaining chronic stomach pain.
This is the most appropriate way to describe pain during the process.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questionsIt's neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
Yes, e.g., 'Mi digestión es lenta', but for the action, 'la digestión' is more common.
It's the term for when digestion is supposedly interrupted by cold water.
Use 'hacer' for the process/action and 'tener' to describe the quality (buena/mala).
Yes, though 'reposar la comida' is a very popular alternative in some regions.
Related Phrases
Corte de digestión
specialized formA sudden stop in digestion due to cold water.
Digestión pesada
similarSlow or difficult digestion.
Echar la siesta
builds onTo take a nap.
Empacho
contrastIndigestion from overeating.
