dolor

/doh-LOR/

pain

A small, simple cartoon character, perhaps a child, clutching their forehead with both hands and frowning, illustrating a sharp headache or physical pain.

The most common meaning of dolor is physical 'pain' or 'ache', as in dolor de cabeza (headache).

dolor(Noun)

mA1

pain

physical sensation

Also:

ache

a continuous, dull pain

📝 In Action

Tengo un dolor de cabeza terrible.

I have a terrible headache.

Siento un dolor agudo en la espalda.

I feel a sharp pain in my back.

El medicamento alivió el dolor muscular.

The medicine relieved the muscle pain.

Word Connections

Synonyms

molestia (discomfort)
padecimiento (ailment)

Antonyms

alivio (relief)
placer (pleasure)

Common Collocations

dolor de cabeza – headache
dolor de espalda – backache
dolor de muelas – toothache
dolor agudo – sharp pain
dolor crónico – chronic pain

💡 Grammar Points

Using 'Tener' for Aches and Pains

In Spanish, you often say you 'have' a pain using the verb 'tener'. For example, 'Tengo dolor de cabeza' literally means 'I have a pain of the head'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

'Me duele' vs. 'Tengo dolor'

Mistake: "'Soy dolor en la cabeza.' (This sounds like 'I am a pain in the head.')"

Correction: Use 'Tengo dolor de cabeza' (I have a headache) or 'Me duele la cabeza' (My head hurts). Both are correct and very common ways to talk about pain.

⭐ Usage Tips

Describing Your Pain

You can add words after 'dolor' to be more specific, like 'dolor fuerte' (strong pain), 'dolor leve' (mild pain), or 'dolor constante' (constant pain).

A solitary figure sitting quietly on a bench with a slumped posture and a tear trace visible on their cheek, conveying deep sorrow or grief.

In emotional contexts, dolor translates to 'grief' or 'sorrow' caused by loss or suffering.

dolor(Noun)

mB1

grief

emotional suffering from loss

Also:

sorrow

deep distress or sadness

heartache

emotional anguish

📝 In Action

La pérdida de su abuela le causó un gran dolor.

The loss of his grandmother caused him great grief.

Es una historia llena de dolor y sufrimiento.

It's a story full of pain and suffering.

Compartimos tu dolor en este momento difícil.

We share your sorrow in this difficult time.

Word Connections

Synonyms

pena (sorrow, pity)
tristeza (sadness)
sufrimiento (suffering)

Antonyms

alegría (joy)
felicidad (happiness)

Common Collocations

causar dolor – to cause pain/grief
sentir dolor – to feel sorrow
con profundo dolor – with deep sorrow

Idioms & Expressions

ser un dolor de cabeza – To be a real nuisance or a difficult problem.

⭐ Usage Tips

Context is Key

When you hear 'dolor', think about the situation. If someone is talking about a death, a breakup, or a sad event, it almost certainly means emotional pain, not a physical ache.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: dolor

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'dolor' to talk about emotional sadness, not physical pain?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

doler(to hurt, to ache) - verb

doloroso(painful) - adjective

adolorido(sore, aching) - adjective

indoloro(painless) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'dolor' and 'pena'?

Both can mean sorrow or grief, but they have different flavors. 'Dolor' is a deeper, more intense pain or grief, like from a major loss. 'Pena' can also mean sorrow, but it's often a bit lighter and can also mean 'pity' or 'shame' (like in '¡Qué pena!' - 'What a shame!'). For physical pain, you always use 'dolor'.

Is 'dolor' always masculine?

Yes, it's always 'el dolor'. Even though it ends in '-or' like some feminine words (e.g., 'la flor'), 'dolor' is a masculine noun. So you would say 'el dolor es fuerte' (the pain is strong).