Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Yawning in Spanish: Bostezar
Bostezar · verb · bohs-teh-SAR
The English word 'yawning' translates to bostezar (the verb, to yawn) or bostezo (the noun, a yawn) in Spanish. Bostezar is a regular -ar verb with a minor spelling change: the z becomes c before an e in certain conjugations.
Pronounce bostezar as bohs-teh-SAR, with the stress on the final syllable.
No puedo dejar de bostezar; estoy muy cansado.
I can't stop yawning; I'm very tired.
Yawning in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for yawning, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| bostezar | yawning | bohs-teh-SAR | Default, widely understood |
| bostezo | yawning | as a noun meaning 'a yawn' |
How Native Speakers Use Bostezar
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Tiredness
Ella bostezó tres veces durante la reunión.
She yawned three times during the meeting.
Noting someone's visible tiredness.
Contagious yawning
Cada vez que tú bostezas, yo también empiezo a bostezar.
Every time you yawn, I start yawning too.
Observing the contagious nature of yawning.
The noun form
Un bostezo largo escapó de su boca sin querer.
A long yawn escaped from his mouth unintentionally.
Describing an involuntary yawn in a story.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Bostezar
Spelling change error
Incorrect: Yo bostezé mucho anoche.
Correct: Yo bostecé mucho anoche.
In the preterite first person, the z changes to c before the é ending: bostecé, not bostezé.
Using the noun as a verb
Incorrect: Estoy bostezo todo el día.
Correct: Estoy bostezando todo el día.
Bostezo is the noun (a yawn). The present participle is bostezando.
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Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Bostezar used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using bostezar in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear No puedo dejar de bostezar; estoy muy cansado. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Yawning in Spanish
- How do you say 'yawning' in Spanish?
- The verb 'to yawn' is bostezar, and 'yawning' as a gerund is bostezando, while the noun 'a yawn' is bostezo.
- Is bostezar a regular verb?
- Bostezar is mostly regular but has a spelling change: the z becomes c before e (e.g., yo bostecé) to maintain the soft 's' sound in Latin American pronunciation.
- How do you say 'I am yawning' in Spanish?
- You say estoy bostezando, using the present progressive with the gerund form of bostezar.