Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Fasting in Spanish
Ayuno · noun · ah-YOO-noh
Fasting in Spanish is 'ayuno' (noun) or 'ayunar' (verb). The word derives from the Latin 'ieiunium' and carries both health/dietary and religious connotations. In medical contexts, 'en ayunas' means 'on an empty stomach,' which is commonly heard in healthcare settings throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
Say ah-YOO-noh for the noun. The stress falls on the second syllable 'yu.' For the verb 'ayunar,' say ah-yoo-NAHR. The expression 'en ayunas' is pronounced ehn ah-YOO-nahs.
El ayuno intermitente se ha vuelto muy popular.
Intermittent fasting has become very popular.
Fasting in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for fasting, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| ayuno | fasting | ah-YOO-noh | Default, widely understood |
| ayunar | fasting | verb form: to fast |
How Native Speakers Use Ayuno
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Health trend
Llevo tres meses haciendo ayuno intermitente.
I've been doing intermittent fasting for three months.
Discussing a dietary practice, using the present perfect progressive.
Medical instruction
Debe venir en ayunas para el análisis de sangre.
You must come fasting for the blood test.
A doctor or lab technician giving instructions before a medical test.
Religious practice
Durante la Cuaresma, muchos católicos practican el ayuno.
During Lent, many Catholics practice fasting.
Referring to religious fasting traditions in Spanish-speaking cultures.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Ayuno
Confusing 'ayuno' with 'ayuda'
Incorrect: Necesito ayuno con este proyecto. (meaning help)
Correct: Necesito ayuda con este proyecto.
Despite sounding somewhat similar to English speakers, 'ayuno' (fasting) and 'ayuda' (help) are completely different words with no semantic overlap.
Wrong preposition for 'on an empty stomach'
Incorrect: Tienes que tomar la medicina de ayunas.
Correct: Tienes que tomar la medicina en ayunas.
The fixed expression is 'en ayunas' (on an empty stomach). No other preposition works in this phrase.
Why Fasting Matters in Spanish-Speaking Cultures
Religious fasting in Latin America
Lock in Fasting Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Ayuno used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using ayuno in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El ayuno intermitente se ha vuelto muy popular. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Fasting in Spanish
- What does 'en ayunas' mean?
- The expression 'en ayunas' literally means 'in a fasting state' and is the standard way to say 'on an empty stomach' in Spanish, most commonly heard in medical contexts when doctors require patients to not eat before blood work or procedures.
- How do you say 'intermittent fasting' in Spanish?
- The direct translation 'ayuno intermitente' is universally used and understood across all Spanish-speaking countries, as this health trend has been widely adopted globally and the Spanish terminology follows the English pattern directly.
- Is 'ayunar' a regular verb?
- Ayunar is a perfectly regular -ar verb with no stem changes or irregularities, conjugated as ayuno, ayunas, ayuna, ayunamos, ayunáis, ayunan in the present tense, making it straightforward for Spanish learners to use.