Inklingo

How to Say "stamina" in Spanish

English → Spanish

aguante

ah-GWAN-tehaˈɡwante

nounB1general
Use 'aguante' for general physical or mental endurance, like the ability to tolerate hardship or keep going for a long time.
A hiker climbing a steep mountain path with a determined expression, carrying a heavy backpack.

Examples

Para correr una maratón se necesita mucho aguante.

To run a marathon, you need a lot of stamina.

No tengo mucho aguante con el ruido de la calle.

I don't have much patience for the street noise.

Este motor tiene un aguante impresionante; nunca falla.

This engine has impressive durability; it never fails.

It's a Noun, Not a Verb

Even though it looks like a verb, 'el aguante' is a thing you have. Think of it as 'the capacity to hold on.'

Using 'estamina'

Mistake: “Él tiene buena estamina.”

Correction: Él tiene mucho aguante. (While 'estamina' exists, 'aguante' is much more natural in Spanish.)

resistencia

reh-sees-TEN-see-ahresisˈtensja

nounA2general
Choose 'resistencia' when specifically talking about physical endurance or the capacity to withstand physical exertion over time.
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.

pulmones

pool-MOH-nayspulˈmones

nounB2informal
Use 'pulmones' metaphorically to describe someone with exceptional physical stamina, implying they have great lung capacity and can go on and on.
A cheerful cartoon athlete running strongly and quickly along a winding path stretching far into the distance, symbolizing great endurance.

Examples

Este corredor tiene unos pulmones increíbles; puede correr kilómetros sin cansarse.

This runner has incredible stamina; he can run kilometers without getting tired.

Necesitas pulmones si quieres subir esa montaña sin detenerte.

You need staying power if you want to climb that mountain without stopping.

Figurative Use

In this sense, 'pulmones' describes a person's physical ability to keep going, using the image of strong lungs to represent great endurance.

Aguante vs. Resistencia

Learners often confuse 'aguante' and 'resistencia'. While both mean physical endurance, 'resistencia' is more specific to the body's capacity to keep going during exertion, while 'aguante' is broader, encompassing mental fortitude and general staying power.

Related Translations

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