Inklingo

How to Say "hangover" in Spanish

English → Spanish

resaca

/reh-SAH-kah//reˈsaka/

nounA2general
Use 'resaca' for the general and most common term for a hangover, suitable for almost any situation and widely understood across the Spanish-speaking world.
A person sitting on a bed looking tired and holding an ice pack to their head.

Examples

Tengo una resaca terrible porque anoche bebí mucho vino.

I have a terrible hangover because I drank a lot of wine last night.

Beber agua ayuda a evitar la resaca.

Drinking water helps to avoid a hangover.

Using 'Tener' with Resaca

Just like 'hunger' or 'thirst,' Spanish speakers 'have' a hangover (tener resaca) rather than 'being' hungover.

Gender Error

Mistake: “el resaca”

Correction: la resaca (it is a feminine noun ending in -a).

goma

/go-ma//ˈɡo.ma/

nounC1informal
Use 'goma' when referring to a hangover in a more informal or colloquial way, common in Spain and some parts of Latin America.
A pale, simplistic figure sitting slumped at a table, holding their head in their hands, looking unwell. A glass of water is nearby.

Examples

¡Qué goma tengo hoy! No debí beber tanto anoche.

What a hangover I have today! I shouldn't have drunk so much last night.

mona

MOH-nah/ˈmo.na/

nounC1informal
Use 'mona' to describe a hangover, particularly when the feeling of unwellness is quite strong, often used informally.
A person lying in a dark room, covering their eyes with an arm, looking pale and unwell, indicating a headache or nausea.

Examples

Después de la boda, tenía una mona que no me dejaba levantarme.

After the wedding, I had a hangover that wouldn't let me get up.

Todavía tiene la mona de anoche, no puede ni hablar.

She still has the tipsiness from last night, she can't even speak.

Choosing between 'resaca', 'goma', and 'mona'

The most common mistake is using the informal terms 'goma' or 'mona' in formal situations or when speaking with people you don't know well. Always start with 'resaca' as it's universally understood and appropriate in all contexts.

Related Translations

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