herir
“herir” means “to wound” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to wound, to injure
Also: to hurt
📝 In Action
El accidente hirió a tres personas gravemente.
A2The accident injured three people seriously.
No quiero herirte con esta aguja.
B1I don't want to wound you with this needle.
La bala le hirió el hombro.
B2The bullet wounded his shoulder.
to hurt (feelings), to offend
Also: to wound (pride/honor)
📝 In Action
Sus comentarios hirieron mi orgullo profundamente.
B1His comments wounded my pride deeply.
No quería herir tus sentimientos, solo dije la verdad.
B2I didn't want to hurt your feelings, I just told the truth.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: herir
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the present tense 'yo' form of herir?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *ferīre*, which meant 'to strike' or 'to hit.' Over time, the initial 'f' sound in Latin often turned into a silent 'h' in Spanish, leading to 'herir.'
First recorded: Medieval Spanish (around the 13th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'herir' and 'doler'?
'Herir' means 'to wound' or 'to injure'—it is an action that someone or something *does* to cause harm (physical or emotional). 'Doler' means 'to ache' or 'to hurt'—it describes the *feeling* of pain that results, and it works like the verb 'gustar' (Me duele la cabeza = My head hurts me).
Is 'herir' always used for serious injuries?
Not always. While it implies an injury or wound (like a cut or a bruise), it can also be used figuratively for minor emotional upsets, though 'lastimar' is often preferred for less serious physical hurts.