tragar

Tragar is a Spanish verb meaning to swallow or to ingest. It covers the act of passing food, liquid, or a pill from the mouth through the throat into the stomach, as well as related actions such as drinking, swallowing saliva, or gulping air. In addition to literal use, tragar appears in many figurative expressions that convey endurance, disbelief, or acceptance. Examples: “tragué la píldora” (I swallowed the pill), “no puedo tragar más” (I can’t swallow any more).

Etymology and related forms: Tragar derives from Latin roots connected to swallowing. The noun “trago” means a swallow or gulp, and the verb forms “tragar” or the reflexive “tragarse” build from that base. The reflexive form tragarse emphasizes swallowing entirely or swallowing something oneself (for example, “se tragó las palabras” – he swallowed his words).

Grammar and usage: Tragar is transitive and typically takes a direct object: “tragar algo” (to swallow something). It can be used with pronouns (lo, la, los, las) or in the senses that emphasize completion with the reflexive form, as in “me lo tragué” or “se tragó el orgullo.”

Figurative uses and medical context: Common figurative expressions include “tragar la vergüenza” or “tragar la mentira,” meaning to endure or accept shame or a lie. In medical contexts, difficulty swallowing is called disfagia (or dysphagia in English), referring to impaired or painful swallowing and the need for clinical evaluation.