Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Heart Rate in Spanish
Frecuencia Cardíaca · noun · freh-KWEHN-see-ah kar-DEE-ah-kah
Heart rate in Spanish is 'frecuencia cardíaca,' the formal medical term used in clinical settings. In everyday conversation, people often say 'ritmo cardíaco' or simply 'pulso' (pulse). All three terms relate to how fast the heart beats, though technically 'pulso' measures the arterial pulse rather than the cardiac rhythm directly.
Say freh-KWEHN-see-ah kar-DEE-ah-kah. Both words carry written accents indicating stress: 'frecuéncia' on the second syllable and 'cardíaca' on the second syllable as well. The 'cu' produces a 'kw' sound.
Tu frecuencia cardíaca en reposo es de setenta latidos por minuto.
Your resting heart rate is seventy beats per minute.
Heart Rate in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for heart rate, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| frecuencia cardíaca | heart rate | freh-KWEHN-see-ah kar-DEE-ah-kah | Default, widely understood |
| ritmo cardíaco | heart rate | informal/colloquial | |
| pulso | heart rate | pulse, often used interchangeably |
How Native Speakers Use Frecuencia Cardíaca
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Medical checkup
El médico dijo que mi frecuencia cardíaca es normal.
The doctor said my heart rate is normal.
Clinical context using the formal medical term.
Exercise context
Mi reloj muestra que mi ritmo cardíaco sube a 150 cuando corro.
My watch shows that my heart rate goes up to 150 when I run.
Fitness tracking using the more colloquial 'ritmo cardíaco.'
Emergency situation
¡Rápido, tómale el pulso! Necesitamos saber su frecuencia cardíaca.
Quick, take his pulse! We need to know his heart rate.
Using both 'pulso' and 'frecuencia cardíaca' in an urgent medical scenario.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Frecuencia Cardíaca
Saying 'rata del corazón'
Incorrect: Mi rata del corazón es muy alta.
Correct: Mi frecuencia cardíaca es muy alta.
A literal word-for-word translation of 'heart rate' using 'rata' (which means a rat, not a rate) would be nonsensical and humorous. The correct medical term is 'frecuencia cardíaca.'
Confusing 'latido' with 'frecuencia'
Incorrect: Mi latido cardíaco es 72.
Correct: Mi frecuencia cardíaca es 72. / Tengo 72 latidos por minuto.
'Latido' means a single heartbeat, while 'frecuencia' is the rate (number per time unit). You can say '72 latidos por minuto' or 'frecuencia de 72,' but 'latido cardíaco' alone doesn't express a measurement.
Lock in Heart Rate Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Frecuencia Cardíaca used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Heart Rate in Spanish
- What's the difference between 'frecuencia cardíaca' and 'pulso'?
- While often used interchangeably in casual speech, 'frecuencia cardíaca' technically measures the electrical activity and contractions of the heart itself, while 'pulso' measures the pulse wave felt in arteries—in healthy individuals these numbers are identical, but certain heart conditions can cause them to differ.
- How do you say 'beats per minute' in Spanish?
- Beats per minute translates to 'latidos por minuto' (abbreviated lpm), where 'latidos' refers to individual heartbeats, and this is the standard unit used in medical reports, fitness apps, and health discussions throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
- How do you say 'resting heart rate'?
- Resting heart rate is 'frecuencia cardíaca en reposo,' where 'en reposo' means at rest, and this measurement is important in fitness and medical contexts as a baseline indicator of cardiovascular health.