Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Sprain in Spanish: Esguince
Esguince · noun · ehs-GEEN-seh
Esguince is the medical Spanish term for a sprain, referring to a stretching or tearing of ligaments around a joint. The informal alternative torcedura (from torcer, to twist) is also widely understood. The verb to sprain is torcerse, as in me torcí el tobillo (I sprained my ankle).
Say ehs-GEEN-seh, with the stress on the second syllable. The gui produces a hard g sound, as in the English word geese.
Me hice un esguince en el tobillo jugando fútbol.
I sprained my ankle playing soccer.
Sprain in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for sprain, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| esguince | sprain | ehs-GEEN-seh | Default, widely understood |
| torcedura | sprain | common informal alternative |
How Native Speakers Use Esguince
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Ankle injury during sports
El jugador sufrió un esguince de tobillo en el segundo tiempo.
The player suffered an ankle sprain in the second half.
Esguince de tobillo (ankle sprain) is the most common type referenced in sports.
Visiting the emergency room
La doctora me confirmó que es solo una torcedura y no una fractura.
The doctor confirmed it's just a sprain and not a fracture.
Torcedura is the informal term that patients often use when describing their injury.
Wrist sprain
Se torció la muñeca al caerse de la bicicleta durante el paseo.
She sprained her wrist falling off the bicycle during the ride.
Torcerse is the reflexive verb used to describe the act of spraining a body part.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Esguince
Using esguince as a verb
Incorrect: Me esguincé el tobillo.
Correct: Me torcí el tobillo. / Me hice un esguince en el tobillo.
Esguince is a noun, not a verb. You cannot conjugate it. Use torcerse (to twist) as the verb, or the phrase hacerse un esguince.
Confusing sprain with fracture
Incorrect: Tengo un esguince, necesito yeso.
Correct: Tengo un esguince, necesito vendaje.
An esguince (sprain) involves ligaments, not broken bones. A cast (yeso) is for fractures. Sprains are treated with bandages (vendaje), rest, and ice.
Lock in Sprain 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 Esguince used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using esguince in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Me hice un esguince en el tobillo jugando fútbol. 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 Sprain in Spanish
- How do you say sprain in Spanish?
- The medical term is esguince, and the informal word is torcedura. To say I sprained my ankle, use me torcí el tobillo or me hice un esguince en el tobillo.
- What is the verb for to sprain in Spanish?
- The verb is torcerse, a reflexive stem-changing verb. It conjugates as me torcí (I sprained), te torciste (you sprained), se torció (he/she sprained). The root meaning of torcer is to twist.
- What is the difference between esguince and torcedura?
- Esguince is the precise medical term for a ligament sprain, while torcedura is the colloquial word meaning a twist or wrench. Doctors use esguince on diagnoses, while patients tend to say torcedura in everyday conversation. Both refer to the same injury.