Spanish word

soroche

Pronunciation

IPA/soˈɾotʃe/

Meaning

  • masculine nounaltitude sickness

Example

Tengo soroche y me duele la cabeza.

I have altitude sickness and my head hurts.

Illustration for soroche (altitude sickness)

More examples

Al subir sin aclimatarme empecé con soroche y me mareé.

When I climbed without acclimatizing, I began to have altitude sickness and got dizzy.

Core concept

Physical sickness from thin mountain air causing headache, nausea and dizziness.

Common phrases

  • tener soroche

    have altitude sickness

  • sufrir de soroche

    suffer from altitude sickness

  • síntomas de soroche

    symptoms of altitude sickness

Similar words

mal de altura: Illness caused by high altitude producing headache, nausea and dizziness.
mal de montaña: Illness after ascending or climbing mountains that causes headache, nausea and dizziness.
mareo: Sensation of dizziness or lightheadedness with unsteady balance or a spinning feeling.
náusea: Queasy stomach sensation with an urge to vomit.

Definition in Spanish

Soroche es un conjunto de síntomas que aparecen al estar en altitudes elevadas debido a la menor cantidad de oxígeno en el aire, como dolor de cabeza, náuseas y sensación de mareo.

Word origin

Borrowed from Quechua into Andean Spanish, soroche names the set of symptoms produced by reduced oxygen at high altitude.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech in the Andes people commonly say 'tengo soroche' or 'me dio soroche', while outside the region 'mal de altura' or 'mal de montaña' is often clearer.

Opposites

Word lists with this word