Resaca
Hangover — the morning-after consequence of a big night out.
Related lesson: Going for Drinks: Order Like You Live There.
Hear it in context
Tengo una resaca tremenda.
I have a terrible hangover.
Con esta resaca no puedo ni desayunar.
I can't even eat breakfast with this hangover.
Anoche salimos hasta muy tarde, hoy vamos con resaca.
We went out really late last night, today we're hungover.
What It Actually Means
Resaca is the direct equivalent of “hangover” — the tiredness, headache, and regret that follows a heavy night of drinking. Spain’s bar culture makes this a genuinely useful word to know early.
The Construction
Unlike English “I’m hungover”, Spanish treats it as a possession: tener resaca (“to have a hangover”). You’ll also hear it used adjectivally in casual speech — “estoy resacoso/a” (“I’m hungover”, colloquial).
Cultural Note
Resaca comes up constantly the day after a night involving cañas (small beers) — see the going-for-drinks lesson for how Spaniards order and toast. Sunday brunch conversation in Spain often opens with someone announcing their resaca as casually as discussing the weather.
Common Pitfall
Resaca also has an unrelated literal meaning — “undertow” or the pull of a receding wave at the beach. Context makes the intended meaning obvious, but don’t be thrown if you see it in a different setting.