padecer
verbCEFR B2
What does “padecer” mean in English?
to suffer from an illness, condition or hardship over a period of time
Example sentences
Padece asma desde niño, por lo que siempre lleva el inhalador consigo.
He has suffered from asthma since childhood, so he always carries his inhaler with him.
Muchas familias padecieron enormes privaciones durante los años de la posguerra.
Many families suffered enormous hardship during the post-war years.
How to use it
Padecer (irregular verb like conocer: padezco, padeces) means 'to suffer from' — used especially with illnesses or prolonged hardship: padecer una enfermedad, padecer insomnio. More formal than the everyday tener (to have) in medical descriptions.
Common mistake
Padecer (formal, to suffer from an illness or hardship over time) is more formal than simply tener (to have) — use padecer in medical, journalistic or literary registers rather than casual conversation.
Topics
Related B2 words
Reference
This entry’s teaching guidance follows Plan Curricular del Instituto Cervantes (Instituto Cervantes), B2 Nociones específicas: salud y bienest.