How to Say "tummy" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “tummy” is “barriga” — use 'barriga' for a general, informal, or affectionate way to refer to one's tummy or belly, often used among friends and family.
barriga
bah-REE-gahbaˈriɣa
Examples
Me duele la barriga después de comer tanto.
My tummy hurts after eating so much.
El bebé tiene una barriga muy tierna.
The baby has a very cute belly.
A Juan le está saliendo barriga porque no hace ejercicio.
Juan is getting a potbelly because he doesn't exercise.
Using 'the' instead of 'my'
In Spanish, when talking about body parts, we usually use 'la' (the) instead of 'mi' (my). Say 'me duele la barriga' (the belly hurts me) rather than 'mi barriga'.
Barriga vs. Estómago
Mistake: “Using 'estómago' for everything.”
Correction: Use 'estómago' for the internal organ and 'barriga' for the visible belly area.
panza
PAHN-sahˈpansa
Examples
Me duele un poco la panza por comer tantos dulces.
My tummy hurts a bit from eating so many sweets.
El gato siempre duerme panza arriba en el sofá.
The cat always sleeps belly up on the sofa.
Esa jarra de barro tiene una panza muy ancha.
That clay jar has a very wide bulge.
Using 'the' instead of 'my'
When talking about your own body in Spanish, use 'la' (the) instead of 'mi' (my). For example, say 'Me duele la panza' instead of 'Me duele mi panza'.
Always Feminine
Even if a man has a large stomach, the word remains feminine: 'la panza'. Any adjectives describing it must also be feminine, like 'panza hinchada' (swollen belly).
Thinking it's a 'bad' word
Mistake: “Avoiding 'panza' because you think it is a swear word.”
Correction: It is not a swear word! It's just informal. You can use it with friends, family, and even children without being offensive.
vientre
bee-EN-trehˈbjɛn.tɾe
Examples
Me duele el vientre después de comer demasiado.
My belly hurts after eating too much.
El bebé durmió boca abajo sobre el vientre de su padre.
The baby slept face down on his father's stomach.
La bailarina tenía un vientre plano y fuerte.
The dancer had a flat, strong abdomen.
Informal vs. Slightly More Formal
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