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"Sufrir" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to suffer", and "sufrir de" is a transitive verb phrase which is often translated as "to suffer from". Learn more about the difference between "sufrir" and "sufrir de" below.
sufrir(
soo
-
freer
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to suffer
No puede comer pastel porque sufre de diabetes.He can't eat cake because he suffers from diabetes.
Mejor corta comunicación con él, no quieres que sufra más.You'd better cut off communication with him, you don't want him to suffer anymore.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
2. (to endure)
a. to suffer
Nuestro ejército sufrió el ataque a medianoche.Our army suffered the attack at midnight.
b. to have
Sufrieron un accidente cuando volvían a casa.They had an accident when they were coming back home.
c. to undergo (surgery)
Sufrió una operación y ahora tiene que descansar.He underwent surgery and now he has to rest.
sufrir de(
soo
-
freer
deh
)A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
a. to suffer from
El paciente sufre de diabetes y debe inyectarse insulina a diario.The patient suffers from diabetes and needs to give himself a daily injection of insulin.
a. to have bad
Creo que mi esposo sufre de las rodillas porque esquió mucho de joven.I think my husband has bad knees because he skied a lot when he was young.
d. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Ana siempre sufrió de las cervicales.Ana always had issues with her neck vertebrae.
Este tipo de perro suele sufrir del corazón.This type of dog tends to suffer from heart conditions.
a. to suffer from
El país sufre de una escasez crónica de mano de obra especializada.The country suffers from a chronic shortage of skilled manpower.
