Tingling in Spanish

What it means

Tingling is an abnormal sensation that MedlinePlus covers together with numbness; both can occur anywhere in the body but are often felt in the fingers, hands, feet, arms, or legs. The same article lists "pins and needles sensation" and "paresthesias" among its alternative names, and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke glossary defines paresthesia as a burning, itching, tingling, or prickling sensation usually felt in the hands, arms, legs, or feet. MedlinePlus lists possible causes, including sitting or standing in the same position for a long time, injuring a nerve, and conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetes, and stroke. It says to go to a hospital or call 911 or the local emergency number when numbness or tingling comes with weakness or an inability to move.

Tingling in Spanish

Spanish term: Hormigueo
Gender and article: masculine: el hormigueo
Pronunciation: or-mee-GEH-oh

Hormigueo is the word MedlinePlus en español uses in the title of its article, Entumecimiento y hormigueo, which describes the two as sensaciones anormales. The Real Academia Española dictionary marks hormigueo as a masculine noun (el hormigueo) and defines it as the action and effect of hormiguear. That verb, formed from hormiga, is defined as feeling, in a part of the body, a tickling sensation like the one that would result if ants (hormigas) were swarming or running over it.

MedlinePlus en español lists parestesias, hormigueo y entumecimiento and sensación de punzadas y pinchazos among the alternative names of the article; the English list has "pins and needles sensation" in the same position as the last of these. For a hand or foot that has "fallen asleep," the Spanish article writes una mano o pie "dormidos". The Spanish article gives the same emergency instruction as the English one: acuda al hospital o llame al 911 o al número local de emergencias.

Phrases for an appointment

What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:

Who	English	Spanish
Patient	I have had tingling in my feet for about two weeks.	Tengo hormigueo en los pies desde hace unas dos semanas.
Clinician	Is the tingling in both feet or only in one?	¿El hormigueo es en los dos pies o solo en uno?
Patient	It is in both, and sometimes I also get tingling in my fingers.	En los dos, y a veces también tengo hormigueo en los dedos de las manos.
Clinician	When did it start, and does anything make it better or worse?	¿Cuándo empezó, y hay algo que lo mejore o lo empeore?
Patient	It gets worse when I walk.	Empeora cuando camino.
Clinician	Do you also have numbness or weakness?	¿También tiene entumecimiento o debilidad?
Clinician	I am going to order blood tests, including a vitamin B12 level.	Voy a pedirle análisis de sangre, entre ellos el nivel de vitamina B12.
Patient	My hand falls asleep at night. Is that the same thing as tingling?	Se me duerme la mano por la noche. ¿Es lo mismo que el hormigueo?

In 9 languages

Language	Term
English	Tingling
Spanish (Español)	Hormigueo
Chinese (中文)	刺痛
Korean (한국어)	따끔거림
Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)	Tê ran
Filipino (Tagalog)	Pangingilig
Portuguese (Português)	Formigamento
Thai (ภาษาไทย)	เสียวซ่า
Japanese (日本語)	ピリピリ感

Where you'll see it

neurology reportchartintake formmedical record

Related ICD-10-CM category

ICD-10-CM code: R20 → Disturbances of skin sensation

Related terms

Your right to an interpreter in the United States

If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.

You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»

More terms: Brain and nerves

All terms in this area: Brain and nerves — Cerebro y nervios

Sources

This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.