SOCORRO!!!!!!!! Me lleva el...?

[Berzin]

How do I translate the word "undertow" and how can I explain its' effects in spanish?

This has been a tough one for me. Please advise.

[Chirimoya]

Contracorriente or corriente: I'd say something like "la corriente que te puede halar hacia mar adentro" - it should get the meaning across.

[Rocky]

Or resaca.
Maybe this website will help you discuss it in Spanish.
Water Safety and Rip Currents

[Rocky]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

Contracorriente or corriente: I'd say something like "la corriente que te puede halar hacia mar adentro" - it should get the meaning across.

I was thinking that if was drowning and was yelling for help, I would choose corriente over resaca.
They might not even know that word and think I'm telling them that I'm hung over.

[John Evans]

help im drowning might be better than help im being dragged under the water by and undertoe

[Chirimoya]

Rocky, that's what I thought about resaca - corriente would not cause the same confusion.

John Evans: "!Auxilio! !Me estoy ahogando!"

[Berzin]

Is "corriente" the same as "undertow"?

Or would "contracorriente" be better to use to describe it?

[Rocky]

Corriente is current.
It's just a more common word that everyone would understand easily.
Contracorriente or resaca would be more proper but probably less understood.