sed
/sed/
thirst
sed (thirst): The physical need to drink water.
📝 In Action
Tengo mucha sed después de correr.
A1I am very thirsty after running.
¿Quieres agua? Parece que tienes sed.
A1Do you want water? It looks like you are thirsty.
La sed era insoportable en el desierto.
B1The thirst was unbearable in the desert.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Tener' for Thirst
Unlike English, which uses 'to be' (I am thirsty), Spanish uses the verb 'tener' (to have) for physical needs. You say 'Tengo sed' (I have thirst).
Intensifying Thirst
To say you are 'very thirsty', use 'mucha sed' (a lot of thirst), not 'muy sed'. 'Mucha' must be used because 'sed' is a feminine noun.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Saying 'I am thirsty'
Mistake: "Soy sed or Estoy sed."
Correction: Tengo sed. Remember, you 'have' thirst, you don't 'are' thirsty.
⭐ Usage Tips
The Feminine Article
Even though 'sed' is feminine, you rarely need the definite article 'la' unless you are talking about 'the thirst' specifically, usually in a more dramatic context.
sed (craving): A strong desire for something, like wealth or success.
sed(noun)
craving
?strong desire
,yearning
?deep longing
thirst
?figurative desire (e.g., for knowledge/justice)
📝 In Action
El joven poeta tenía una sed insaciable de conocimiento.
B2The young poet had an insatiable thirst for knowledge.
La comunidad sentía una profunda sed de justicia.
C1The community felt a deep craving for justice.
Su sed de venganza lo llevó a cometer errores.
B2His thirst for revenge led him to commit mistakes.
💡 Grammar Points
Connecting the Desire
When using 'sed' in this figurative way, you almost always connect it to the desired thing using the preposition 'de' (of/for): 'sed de poder' (thirst for power).
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Context
This meaning is often reserved for more dramatic or formal situations. For everyday, casual desires, use words like 'ganas' or 'deseo'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sed
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly expresses the basic physical need for water?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I say 'Tengo sed' instead of 'Estoy sediento'?
'Sed' is a noun (thirst), and you use 'tener' (to have) with nouns to describe physical states, just like 'Tener hambre' (to be hungry). While 'sediento' is the adjective (thirsty) and you *could* say 'Estoy sediento/a', 'Tengo sed' is the standard, most natural way to express it.
Is 'sed' masculine or feminine?
'Sed' is a feminine noun. You would say 'La sed.' However, you usually only hear it with the verb 'tener' (Tengo sed), so you don't often need to worry about the article unless you are using it figuratively.