Spanish · 0:44

How to say you are tired and need coffee in Spanish

Hear ways to describe tiredness and ask for coffee. Compare sueño and cansancio with short Spanish examples and English meanings.

By Fabling · A shared lesson, free to watch

Read along below

What to listen for

Tengo sueño means “I am sleepy.” Estoy cansado or cansada means “I am tired.” They overlap, but do not mean exactly the same thing.

Play when you’re ready. Subtitles are available in the player.

Read and understand

Spanish from the video

Read the Spanish, then check its English meaning. Listen again when you want to hear the phrasing.

0:05

Tengo sueño y quiero un café.

I'm sleepy and I want a coffee.

0:09

Estoy muy cansado y necesito tomarme un café caliente.

I'm very tired and I need to drink a hot coffee.

0:16

No doy más de cansancio, así que me voy a preparar un buen café.

I can't take the tiredness anymore, so I'll make a good coffee.

0:23

Apenas puedo mantener los ojos abiertos; un café bien cargado me vendría de perlas.

I can barely keep my eyes open; a strong coffee would be a lifesaver.

0:31

Estoy que me caigo del sueño, me hace falta un café para resucitar.

I'm literally falling over from exhaustion, I need a coffee to come back to life.

A closer look

Tengo sueño means “I am sleepy.” Estoy cansado or cansada means “I am tired.” They overlap, but do not mean exactly the same thing.

Cansado changes to cansada for a feminine speaker. Keep the form that fits the person speaking.

The video uses level labels to arrange its examples. Treat these as variations to explore, not a test of your level or a rule that longer phrases are better.

Your turn

Try one reply.

Say you are sleepy and would like coffee.

Show an example

Tengo sueño y quiero un café. — I’m sleepy and I want a coffee.

Spanish · Video with transcript

Ways to say “I have no idea” in Spanish

Compare no sé with more emphatic ways to say you have no idea. Listen to each phrase and choose one for an ordinary conversation.

Watch the lesson

Spanish · Video with transcript

How to say “I don’t care” in Spanish

Hear several ways to express indifference in Spanish, with translations and a note on choosing a considerate tone.

Watch the lesson

Spanish · Video with transcript

How to say “I’m hungry” in Spanish

Listen to tengo hambre and stronger ways to say you are very hungry. Read the meanings and try a reply before a meal.

Watch the lesson