How to Say "to hurt" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to hurt” is “doler” — use 'doler' when referring to a feeling of physical pain, often localized to a specific body part..
doler
doh-LEHR/doˈleɾ/
Examples
¿Te duele la espalda después de trabajar?
Does your back hurt after working?
Me duelen mucho los pies por los zapatos nuevos.
My feet hurt a lot because of the new shoes.
Al dentista le dolió la cabeza todo el día.
The dentist had a headache all day (literally: The head hurt the dentist all day).
Using Doler (The 'Gustar' Structure)
Unlike English ('I hurt my leg'), Spanish phrases the sentence backward: the object (the leg) is the subject, and the person feeling the pain is the indirect object. You must use 'me, te, le, nos, os, les' first.
Singular vs. Plural
The verb 'doler' must agree with the body part that is hurting. If you have one aching body part (la cabeza), use 'duele'. If you have multiple (los pies), use 'duelen'.
Forgetting the Indirect Pronoun
Mistake: “La cabeza duele (The head hurts).”
Correction: Me duele la cabeza (My head hurts me). You must include the 'me, te, le, etc.' to say who is feeling the pain.
Using the 'Yo' form incorrectly
Mistake: “Yo duelo la pierna.”
Correction: Me duele la pierna. The 'yo' form (duelo) is almost never used naturally in this context, as you are usually describing the body part's action (duele/duelen) on you (me).
lastimar
lahs-tee-MAHR/lastiˈmaɾ/
Examples
El perro lastimó al cartero en el brazo.
The dog injured the mail carrier on the arm.
Ten cuidado, no te vayas a lastimar con esa herramienta.
Be careful, don't hurt yourself with that tool. (using lastimarse)
¿Te lastimaste cuando te caíste de la bicicleta?
Did you hurt yourself when you fell off the bicycle?
Using 'Lastimarse'
When you hurt yourself, you must use the reflexive form ('lastimarse') and a pronoun (me, te, se, nos). For example: 'Me lastimé' (I hurt myself).
Focus on the Body Part
Spanish usually focuses on the body part being hurt, not the possessor. Say: 'Me lastimé la mano' (I hurt MY hand), not 'Me lastimé mi mano'.
Lastimar vs. Doler
Mistake: “Using 'lastimar' when you mean 'to feel pain,' e.g., 'Mi cabeza lastima.'”
Correction: Use 'doler' for the sensation of pain. 'Me duele la cabeza' (My head hurts). 'Lastimar' is the *action* of causing the injury.
herir
/eh-REER//eˈɾiɾ/
Examples
El accidente hirió a tres personas gravemente.
The accident injured three people seriously.
No quiero herirte con esta aguja.
I don't want to wound you with this needle.
La bala le hirió el hombro.
The bullet wounded his shoulder.
The 'e' to 'ie' Change
This verb is irregular. In the present tense, the 'e' changes to 'ie' in all forms except 'nosotros' and 'vosotros'. Remember: 'hiero' (I wound) but 'herimos' (we wound).
The 'e' to 'i' Change in the Past
In the simple past (preterite), the third-person forms change 'e' to 'i': 'él hirió' (he wounded) and 'ellos hirieron' (they wounded). This is a common pattern for many 'ir' stem-changing verbs.
Forgetting the Stem Change
Mistake: “Yo herro (I wound)”
Correction: Yo hiero. The 'e' must change to 'ie' in the present tense 'boot' forms.
molestar
/moh-lehs-tahr//molesˈtaɾ/
Examples
¿Te molesta la espalda después de hacer ejercicio?
Does your back hurt after exercising?
La etiqueta de la camisa me molesta mucho.
The shirt tag bothers/irritates me a lot.
El doctor preguntó si algo le molestaba al caminar.
The doctor asked if anything troubled him when walking.
Using 'Molestar' vs. 'Doler'
'Molestar' is usually for minor, temporary, or irritating discomfort (like a scratchy throat or a tight shoe). 'Doler' is used for actual, usually sharper pain (like a broken bone or a headache).
Doler vs. Molestar for Back Pain
Related Translations
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