Regional & Cultural Guide
“constipado/a”
Meaning: Nasal congestion or a bad cold
Formal Clinical Spanish
resfriado / congestión nasal
Regional Usage
Across regionsconstipado/a
Mexicoandar constipado/a
South Americaconstipado/a
Critical Translation Trap
Spanish "constipado" is a cold. English "constipated" is a bowel problem.
Clinical & Cultural Notes
- Patients saying "estoy constipado" usually mean URI symptoms, not bowel constipation.
- Use "estreñimiento" when you mean constipation of the bowels.
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