Inklingo

How to Say "tolerance" in Spanish

English → Spanish

paciencia

/pah-syen-syah//paˈsjen.sja/

nounA2general
Use 'paciencia' when referring to the ability to calmly accept delays, annoyances, or difficult situations without becoming upset, often in the context of dealing with people or tasks.
A high quality storybook illustration of a person sitting calmly on a wooden stool on a riverbank, holding a fishing rod and waiting patiently for a fish to bite.

Examples

Necesitas mucha paciencia para enseñar a niños pequeños.

You need a lot of patience to teach small children.

Perdí la paciencia esperando el autobús que nunca llegó.

I lost patience waiting for the bus that never arrived.

Ten paciencia, el proceso es lento pero seguro.

Have patience (Be patient), the process is slow but sure.

Gender Alert

Remember that 'paciencia' is a feminine noun, so you must use the article 'la' (la paciencia) and feminine adjectives with it.

Being Patient

To say 'to be patient' in Spanish, you usually say 'tener paciencia' (to have patience), rather than using the verb 'ser' or 'estar' directly with the noun.

Mixing 'Ser' and 'Tener'

Mistake:Soy paciencia. (I am patience.)

Correction: Tengo paciencia. (I have patience.) Use 'tener' to describe possessing this quality, or use the adjective: 'Soy paciente' (I am patient).

estómago

nounB2informal
Use 'estómago' metaphorically to describe a mental or emotional capacity to withstand or endure something unpleasant, shocking, or difficult to face, like graphic content.

Examples

No tengo estómago para ver películas de terror.

I don't have the stomach (or tolerance) to watch horror movies.

Confusing 'paciencia' with 'estómago'

Learners often confuse these by using 'estómago' when they mean general patience, or 'paciencia' when referring to the ability to stomach something unpleasant. Remember, 'paciencia' is about waiting or enduring annoyance, while 'estómago' is about the capacity to face something difficult or unpleasant.

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