Resaca vs. cruda vs. goma vs. guayabo
The words resaca, cruda, goma, and guayabo all refer to the English term hangover after excessive consumption of alcohol. However, they are used in different regions of the Spanish-speaking world.
Resaca
B1Resaca is used in Spain and some parts of Latin America to indicate feeling unwell after drinking too much alcohol.
Después de la fiesta, me levanté con una fuerte resaca.
(After the party, I woke up with a strong hangover.)
Cruda
B2Cruda is predominantly used in Mexico and it also refers to the feeling of a hangover.
Si bebes demasiado tequila, seguramente tendrás una cruda en la mañana.
(If you drink too much tequila, you will surely have a hangover in the morning.)
Goma
B2Goma is used in some Central American countries such as Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador for describing the symptoms after heavy drinking.
Después de la celebración de ayer, tengo una goma terrible.
(After yesterday's celebration, I have a terrible hangover.)
Guayabo
B2Guayabo is well recognized in Colombia as depicting the aftermaths of excessive alcohol intake.
Celebre tanto mi cumpleaños que me desperté con un guayabo horrible.
(I celebrated my birthday so much that I woke up with a horrible hangover.)
Summary
Resaca, cruda, goma, and guayabo are all ways to express the concept of a hangover in Spanish. However, their use differs among regions - resaca is more universal, but cruda is mainly used in Mexico, goma in Central America and guayabo in Colombia. Even though they signify the same physiological aftermath of drinking alcohol excessively, their usage is unique to various cultures and regions within the Spanish-speaking diaspora.