US Medical Term · symptoms
Numbness
Entumecimiento
Also: Adormecimiento (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Numbness |
| Spanish (Español) | Entumecimiento |
| Chinese (中文) | 麻木 |
| Korean (한국어) | 마비감 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Tê |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Pamamanhid |
| Portuguese (Português) | Dormência |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ชา |
| Japanese (日本語) | しびれ |
What it means
Numbness is a loss or reduction of sensation in a part of the body, often described as feeling nothing when you touch the skin. It can occur in the hands, feet, arms, legs, or face. Common causes include staying in one position too long, nerve compression such as carpal tunnel syndrome, vitamin deficiencies, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or poor circulation. Sudden numbness on one side of the body — especially the face, arm, or leg — is a warning sign of stroke and requires calling 911 immediately. Persistent or widespread numbness without an obvious cause should be evaluated by a doctor to rule out serious nerve or vascular conditions.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My left hand and arm have been completely numb since I woke up this morning.
Mi mano y brazo izquierdos han estado completamente entumecidos desde que desperté esta mañana.
I feel numbness and tingling in both feet that gets worse at night.
Siento entumecimiento y hormigueo en ambos pies que empeora de noche.
Half of my face went numb suddenly about an hour ago.
La mitad de mi cara se adormeció de repente hace aproximadamente una hora.
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
R20 Disturbances of skin sensationRelated terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026