Inklingo

How to Say "hoarse" in Spanish

English → Spanish

tomada

toh-MAH-dahtoˈmaða

adjectiveB1informal
Use 'tomada' when referring to a voice that is temporarily hoarse, often due to a cold, overuse, or shouting, implying it's 'taken' or affected.
A person wearing a cozy scarf holding a mug of tea and touching their throat.

Examples

Después de gritar en el concierto, tengo la voz tomada.

After shouting at the concert, my voice is hoarse.

No puedo cantar hoy, tengo la voz tomada.

I can't sing today, my voice is hoarse.

Describing the Voice

Since 'voz' (voice) is a feminine word in Spanish, we always use the feminine 'tomada' to describe it.

bronca

BRON-kahˈbɾoŋka

adjectiveC1
Use 'bronca' to describe a voice that is naturally husky, rough, or harsh-sounding, often implying a deeper, more permanent quality.
A person covering their ears because of a loud, unpleasant noise.

Examples

Su voz bronca añadía un aire de misterio a sus historias.

His hoarse voice added an air of mystery to his stories.

Hablaba con una voz bronca y profunda.

He spoke with a harsh and deep voice.

La superficie era bronca al tacto.

The surface was rough to the touch.

Escuché una risa bronca al final del pasillo.

I heard a coarse laugh at the end of the hallway.

Adjective Agreement

Since this is the feminine form of 'bronco,' it must match the word it describes (like 'la voz').

Confusing with the Noun

Mistake: “Tengo una voz de bronca.”

Correction: Tengo una voz bronca. (Don't use 'de' here; 'bronca' is the adjective describing the voice).

Hoarse vs. Hoarse

Learners often confuse 'tomada' and 'bronca'. Remember that 'tomada' implies a temporary condition affecting the voice, like losing your voice from a cold or shouting. 'Bronca' describes a voice that is inherently rough or deep.

Related Translations

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