Inklingo

How to Say "stamina" in Spanish

English → Spanish

resistencia

reh-sees-TEN-see-ah/resisˈtensja/

nounA2general
Use 'resistencia' when referring to general physical endurance or the ability to sustain effort over time, especially in sports or physical activities.
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-nays//pulˈmones/

nounB2informal
Use 'pulmones' metaphorically to describe someone who has exceptional lung capacity and therefore great physical stamina, implying they can keep going without getting tired.
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.

Resistencia vs. Pulmones

Learners often confuse 'resistencia' and 'pulmones' because both relate to physical endurance. Remember that 'resistencia' is the direct, general term for stamina, while 'pulmones' is a more figurative expression focusing on lung capacity as the source of that stamina.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.