Spanish · Food & Drink
"I'm thirsty" in Spanish: tengo sed
tengo sed
I'm thirsty is tengo sed (TEN-go sehd). Like hunger, thirst uses tener: tengo sed, tienes sed. Sed is feminine as a noun, but you never change it for your own gender in this phrase.
Hot afternoon
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How to pronounce tengo sed
Say it
TEN-go sehd
/ˈten.ɡo sed/
TEN-go sehd. Stress TEN. Sed is one short syllable, like "said" without a strong English diphthong. Keep tengo sed tight together.
"I'm thirsty" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| tengo sed | I'm thirsty Default phrase. | Default phrase. |
| tengo mucha sed | I'm very thirsty Stronger after heat or exercise. | Stronger after heat or exercise. |
| ¿Tienes sed? | Are you thirsty? Friendly tú question. | Friendly tú question. |
| tenemos sed | we're thirsty For a group. | For a group. |
How to use tengo sed in real life
- 1Hot afternoon
Tengo sed. ¿Hay agua fría?
I'm thirsty. Is there cold water?
Natural pair: tengo sed plus a drink.
- 2After sports
Tengo mucha sed ahora.
I'm very thirsty now.
Mucha boosts tengo sed.
- 3Offering a drink
Si tienen sed, hay jugo.
If you're thirsty, there's juice.
Plural tener with sed.
Mistakes English speakers make with tengo sed
Incorrect: Estoy sed.
Correct: Tengo sed.
Thirst uses tener. Say tengo sed, not estoy sed.
Incorrect: Tengo sediento as the phrase.
Correct: Tengo sed.
Sediento is an adjective. The everyday line is tengo sed.
Good to know
Tengo sed is the neutral line before asking for agua, jugo, or a refresco. In hot climates you will hear it constantly. Offering a drink after someone says tengo sed is normal hospitality.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Finding a drink after a walk
ChatPal
Uf, tengo sed.
Ugh, I'm thirsty.
You
Yo también tengo sed.
I'm thirsty too.
ChatPal
Compro agua allá.
I'll buy water over there.
You
Genial, gracias.
Great, thanks.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"I'm thirsty" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "I'm thirsty" in Spanish
Ser, estar, or tener?
Use tener: tengo sed. Estoy sed and soy sed are wrong.
Is sed masculine or feminine?
Feminine as a noun (la sed), but the phrase stays tengo sed for everyone.
How do I say very thirsty?
Tengo mucha sed. Playful: me muero de sed.
What drink follows tengo sed?
Anything: agua, jugo, refresco. The phrase only names the feeling.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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