Inklingo

How to Say "endurance" in Spanish

English → Spanish

paciencia

/pah-syen-syah//paˈsjen.sja/

nounA2general
Use 'paciencia' when 'endurance' refers to the mental fortitude and calm needed to tolerate difficult or tedious situations or people over time.
A high quality storybook illustration of a person sitting calmly on a wooden stool on a riverbank, holding a fishing rod and waiting patiently for a fish to bite.

Examples

Necesitas mucha paciencia para enseñar a niños pequeños.

You need a lot of patience to teach small children.

Perdí la paciencia esperando el autobús que nunca llegó.

I lost patience waiting for the bus that never arrived.

Ten paciencia, el proceso es lento pero seguro.

Have patience (Be patient), the process is slow but sure.

Gender Alert

Remember that 'paciencia' is a feminine noun, so you must use the article 'la' (la paciencia) and feminine adjectives with it.

Being Patient

To say 'to be patient' in Spanish, you usually say 'tener paciencia' (to have patience), rather than using the verb 'ser' or 'estar' directly with the noun.

Mixing 'Ser' and 'Tener'

Mistake: “Soy paciencia. (I am patience.)”

Correction: Tengo paciencia. (I have patience.) Use 'tener' to describe possessing this quality, or use the adjective: 'Soy paciente' (I am patient).

resistencia

reh-sees-TEN-see-ah/resisˈtensja/

nounA2general
Choose 'resistencia' when 'endurance' relates to physical or mental stamina, the ability of something or someone to last or withstand wear, pressure, or damage.
A determined cartoon figure hiking up a very steep, long green hill under a bright sun, demonstrating physical endurance.

Examples

El corredor tiene una gran resistencia física.

The runner has great physical stamina.

Perdí la resistencia después de subir tantas escaleras.

I lost my endurance after climbing so many stairs.

Su resistencia a las enfermedades es impresionante.

His resistance to illnesses is impressive.

Gender Rule

Like most Spanish nouns that end in '-cia' or '-ción', 'resistencia' is always feminine, so you use 'la' or 'una' before it.

supervivencia

soo-per-vee-VEN-seeah/superbiˈβenθja/

nounB1general
Use 'supervivencia' specifically when 'endurance' implies the act or state of continuing to live or exist, especially in the face of danger or adversity.
A close-up illustration of a small, bright green sapling successfully growing out of a deep crack in dry, brown, cracked earth, symbolizing resilience and continued existence.

Examples

La escasez de agua puso en peligro la supervivencia de la colonia.

The lack of water put the colony's survival in danger.

El instinto de supervivencia nos obliga a buscar refugio.

The instinct of survival forces us to seek shelter.

La pequeña empresa luchaba por su supervivencia en el mercado.

The small company was fighting for its survival in the market.

Feminine Noun Pattern

Most Spanish nouns that end in -encia (like 'supervivencia' or 'paciencia') are feminine, so they always use the articles 'la' or 'una'.

Using the wrong preposition

Mistake: “Luchar a la supervivencia (Fighting *to* survival)”

Correction: Luchar por la supervivencia (Fighting *for* survival). Spanish uses 'por' to show the goal or objective of the fight.

Paciencia vs. Resistencia

Learners often confuse 'paciencia' and 'resistencia'. Remember that 'paciencia' is about tolerating hardship calmly, like waiting in a long line. 'Resistencia' is about physical or mental stamina, like a marathon runner's ability to keep going.

Related Translations

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