Spanish word

resaca

Pronunciation

IPA/reˈsaka/

Meaning

  • feminine nounhangover

Example

Ayer bebí mucho y ahora tengo resaca.

I drank a lot yesterday and now I have a hangover.

Illustration for resaca (hangover)

More examples

Mucha gente toma agua para matar la resaca.

Many people drink water to get rid of a hangover.

Core concept

Throbbing headache and nausea the morning after heavy drinking.

Common phrases

  • tener resaca

    have a hangover

  • matar la resaca

    get rid of a hangover

  • estar con resaca

    suffer from a hangover

Similar words

cruda: Informal Latin American hangover, commonly implying strong nausea and general weakness.

Definition in Spanish

Malestar físico y dolor de cabeza que se siente al día siguiente de haber bebido alcohol en exceso, frecuentemente con sed, náuseas y cansancio.

Word origin

From an original sea term meaning backwash or undertow, the word is used figuratively for the unpleasant aftereffects that follow excessive drinking.

Usage tips

  • Common in everyday speech as '¿Tienes resaca?' or 'Tengo resaca', and in Mexico the colloquial alternative 'cruda' is frequent.

Other meanings

  • rip currentnoun

Opposites

  • sobriedadsobrietynoun

Related words

  • resacónterrible hangovernoun
  • resacadohung overadjective

Word lists with this word