sufrir
“sufrir” means “to suffer” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to suffer, to be in painAlso: to grieve
📝 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.
Word Connections
to undergo, to sustainAlso: to incur, to tolerate
📝 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.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "sufrir" in Spanish:
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: sufrir
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'sufrir' in its figurative sense (Meaning 2)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
Comes from the Latin verb *sufferre*, which is built from two parts: *sub-* meaning 'under' or 'up to,' and *ferre* meaning 'to carry' or 'to bear.' So, the original meaning was 'to carry a burden' or 'to bear up under something difficult.'
First recorded: 13th century (in Old Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
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).