sufrir
soo-FREER
/suˈfɾiɾ/
When 'sufrir' means to suffer physical or emotional pain.
sufrir(Verb)
to suffer
?physical or emotional pain
,to be in pain
?feeling distress
to grieve
?emotional suffering
📝 In Action
Mi abuelo sufrió mucho después de la operación.
B1My grandfather suffered a lot after the operation.
Ella sufre de insomnio crónico.
B1She suffers from chronic insomnia.
No quiero que sufras por mi culpa.
A2I don't want you to suffer because of me.
💡 Grammar Points
Sufrir vs. Padecer
Both mean 'to suffer,' but 'padecer' often suggests suffering from a specific, usually chronic, condition or disease, while 'sufrir' is more general.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'de' for direct suffering
Mistake: “Sufro el dolor.”
Correction: Sufro de dolor. (The preposition 'de' is often used when talking about the source or condition being suffered.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Emotional vs. Physical
You can use 'sufrir' for both emotional pain (sufrir por amor) and physical pain (sufrir una herida).
When 'sufrir' means to undergo a process or change.
sufrir(Verb)
to undergo
?a process, change, or consequence
,to sustain
?damage or loss
to incur
?financial losses
,to tolerate
?rarely, in older usage
📝 In Action
La empresa sufrió grandes pérdidas este trimestre.
B2The company sustained large losses this quarter.
El edificio sufrió daños graves a causa del terremoto.
B2The building underwent serious damage due to the earthquake.
Nuestra reputación sufrió un duro golpe.
C1Our reputation suffered a serious blow.
💡 Grammar Points
Non-Human Subjects
In this context, the subject performing 'sufrir' is often an inanimate object, like 'el puente' (the bridge) or 'la economía' (the economy).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'soportar'
Mistake: “El puente sufrió el peso.”
Correction: El puente soportó el peso. ('Soportar' means to withstand or bear weight/pressure, while 'sufrir' means to be negatively affected by it.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Financial Context
If you are talking about money or business, 'sufrir' is the perfect verb for talking about financial losses or reductions.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: sufrir
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'sufrir' in its figurative sense (Meaning 2)?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'sufrir' always negative?
Yes, 'sufrir' almost always implies experiencing something difficult, painful, or damaging. You wouldn't use it to describe enjoying something.
How do I say 'I suffer from a disease'?
You can use 'sufrir de' or 'padecer de.' For example: 'Sufro de migrañas' (I suffer from migraines).