Spanish Conversation · Level 127
59 words
Spanish word
tic
Pronunciation
IPA/tik/
Meaning
- masculine nountic
Example
¿Has notado algún tic cuando estás muy estresado?
Have you noticed any tics when you're very stressed?
More examples
En clase noté que ella tiene un tic cuando habla en público.
In class I noticed that she has a tic when she speaks in public.
Core concept
Brief involuntary twitch or repetitive vocal sound.
Common phrases
tener un tic
have a tic
Similar words
gesto: Intentional face or body movement used to communicate feelings or meaning.
mueca: Brief unconscious facial distortion, like a twisted mouth or raised brow.
parpadeo: Very brief, rapid closing and opening of the eyelids.
hábito: Repeated action performed until it becomes an automatic routine.
Definition in Spanish
Acción motora o vocal breve, involuntaria y generalmente repetitiva, que suele aparecer en situaciones de tensión o como hábito nervioso.
Word origin
From French tic, originally imitative in form and adopted in 19th-century medical usage to name short involuntary repeated motor or vocal actions.
Usage tips
- Spanish speakers commonly say 'me sale un tic' or 'tengo un tic', and adding the trigger (for example, nervios or estrés) shows that it appears with tension rather than implying a permanent disorder.