How do you say “Get something off your chest” in Spanish?
The closest natural Spanish equivalent is Desahogarse, which literally means “To unchoke oneself”. English speakers use get something off your chest to mean to talk about something that has been worrying or upsetting you. A natural verb for expressing feelings and finding relief. It is broader than telling someone one particular worry or confession. Register: neutral, informal. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural Spanish
Desahogarse
/desa.oˈɣaɾse/
- Literal meaning
- “To unchoke oneself”
- Register
- neutral, informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Close equivalent
88 out of 100
What a native Spanish speaker would actually say
English lifts a weight from the chest. Spanish “desahogarse” suggests release from something that was choking or pressing on you.
The Spanish verb can cover crying or venting as well as a specific confession. Name the topic when you need the listener to expect one particular concern.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning4 out of 5
- Tone4 out of 5
- Context4 out of 5
- Literal similarity2 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in Spanish?
Decir lo que uno lleva dentro
Literally: “To say what one carries inside”
Focuses on expressing something previously kept back.
Quitarse un peso de encima
Literally: “To remove a weight from on top of oneself”
Describes the relief, which can come from solving a problem as well as talking.
Common translation traps
Sacarse algo del pecho
This can sound physical and is not the usual general wording for sharing a worry.
The notes above explain why these versions do not work in this context in Spanish.
In context
English
I need to get something off my chest about yesterday.
Spanish
Necesito desahogarme hablando de lo de ayer.
English
She called me to get something off her chest.
Spanish
Me llamó para desahogarse.
Related expressions
- What “Get something off your chest” means in English
- Spill the beans, To give away a secret.
- Clear the air, Talk openly to reduce tension.
Last updated 2026-09-13