Spanish Conversation · Level 64
76 words
Spanish word
tambaleante
Pronunciation
IPA/tambaleˈante/
Meaning
- adjectivestaggering
Example
El hombre salió tambaleante de la tienda.
The man came out of the store staggering.
More examples
Tras beber demasiado, ella caminaba tambaleante por la acera.
After drinking too much, she was walking unsteadily along the sidewalk.
Core concept
A person teetering on uneven ground.
Common phrases
salir tambaleante
come out staggering
con paso tambaleante
with a staggering gait
Similar words
inestable: Not firmly supported or steady, liable to tilt, wobble, or give way.
mareado: Experiencing vertigo or nausea that produces unsteady, stumbling movement.
vacilante: Taking unsure, wavering steps that pause or falter in the act of moving.
tembloroso: Marked by fine trembling or quivering that undermines bodily steadiness.
Definition in Spanish
Que presenta falta de firmeza o estabilidad, ya sea física o en sentido figurado.
Word origin
From the verb tambalear 'to sway or stagger' plus the adjectival suffix -ante, forming an adjective that denotes being in a swaying or unsteady state.
Usage tips
- English 'staggering' often means 'astonishing', but Spanish 'tambaleante' is used for physical or figurative lack of stability, as in 'salir tambaleante' or 'una posición tambaleante'.