Looking to learn the parts of the body in Spanish?
Why not learn them in a fun and interesting way with unique Spanish slang expressions (using body parts).
Amazingly, Spanish body parts come up in conversation in ways you may have never imagined. Bare in mind these expressions are slang and meant to be used among friends and mostly refer to body parts not depicted.
You’ve been warned!
For those looking for a list, I have included it below.
However, if you truly want to learn the body parts in Spanish, make sure to stick around for the common slang phrases below.
The best way to learn anything is by attaching a word with something memorable like what we have done in the section, “Spanish Slang Expressions With Body Parts.”
List of Body Parts in Spanish
Here's a list of the 40 most common body parts in Spanish.
Scan through them and then skip down to the slang expressions with body parts afterwards. You're sure to learn a couple.
BODY PART IN ENGLISH | SPANISH TRANSLATION |
---|---|
Body | El Cuerpo |
Skin | La Piel |
Brain | El Cerebro |
Hair | El Pelo, El Cabello |
Head | La Cabeza |
Face | La Cara |
Nose | La Nariz |
Eyes | Los Ojos |
Ears | Las Orejas |
Tongue | La Lengua |
Lips | Los Labios |
Mouth | La Boca |
Teeth | Los Dientes |
Chin | El Mentón, La Barbilla |
Neck | El Cuello |
Chest | El Pecho |
Shoulder | El Hombro |
Back | La Espalda |
Arm | El Brazo |
Finger | El Dedo |
Elbow | El Codo |
Hand | La Mano |
Leg | La Pierna |
Knee | La Rodilla |
Foot | El Pie |
Muscle | El Músculo |
Blood | La Sangre |
Stomach | El Estómago |
Throat | La Garganta |
Veins | Las Venas |
Heart | El Corazón |
Skeleton | El Esqueleto |
Ribs | Las Costillas |
Bone | El Hueso |
Lung | El Pulmón |
Ankle | El Tobillo |
Fingernails | Las Uñas |
Kidney | El Riñón |
Joint | La Articulación |
Spanish Slang Expressions With Body Parts
*Note: In case you don’t recognize them, several of the verb conjugations belong to the second person singular “vos” (as opposed to “tú”).
Un Ojo De La Cara
An eye of the face. Doesn’t quite translate, does it?
We use this phrase to convey something that is expensive.
You normally pair it up with the verb costar or salir, which in both cases in this context refer to how much something costs.
Esta camisa me costó un ojo de la cara. => This shirt was very expensive.
Me salió un ojo de la cara arreglar el auto.
Fixing my car was very expensive.
Un Huevo
No doubt about it, un huevo is definitely tops on the list of Spanish slang words for body parts.
Just like the previous phrase, this one is also used to refer to the expensiveness of something. But, it can also be used to express how difficult something is.
It is pretty clear what body part this references. Make sure to use this phrase only among friends!
Let’s look at a few examples...
- Expensiveness - pair it up with costar or salir.
Este viaje me va a costar un huevo. => This trip is going to cost me a lot of money.
Los pasajes de avión cuestan un huevo.
The flights cost a lot of money.
- High level of difficulty
Me costó un huevo levantarme esta mañana. => It was very hard to get up this morning.
Me cuesta un huevo concentrarme para estudiar. => It is very difficult for me to concentrate on studying.
Romper El Culo
- Expensiveness
Again, use this to emphasize how expensive something is.
The word culo is slang for butt and it is of very common use among Spanish speakers in informal settings.
In case you are wondering, nalga is another word for butt. Keep in mind, there are lots of different ways to say butt in Spanish.
A: Compré una torta para el cumpleaños de Adriana.
B: ¿Cuánto te costó?
A: 700 pesos, me rompieron el culo.
A: I bought a cake for Adriana’s birthday.
B: How much did it cost?
A: 700 pesos, it was very expensive.
- Defeat
You can use the same phrase to convey a big defeat. For example:
A: ¿Cómo les fue en el partido de fútbol? B: Nos rompieron el culo.
A: How did it go in the soccer match?
B: They kicked our butts.
Cara De Culo
What’s “cara” stand for? Face. And what’s “culo” stand for? Butt.
So when someone is in a bad mood, they have a cara de culo. They are being a butthead (buttface literally).
For example:
No sé qué le pasa a Pablo, tiene una cara de culo hoy.
I don’t know what’s wrong with Pablo today, he looks cranky./He seems to be in a bad mood.
A: ¿Qué te pasa?
B: Nada, ¿por qué me preguntás?
A: Porque tenés cara de culo.
A: What’s the matter?
B: Nothing, why do you ask?
A: Because you look cranky.
Qué Orto, De Orto
Even though orto stands for butt, it doesn’t quite mean what you think. Qué orto or de orto is used to express how lucky someone is.
You don’t believe me? Let’s look at a few examples.
A: ¿Cómo te fue en el examen de física?
B: Aprobé de orto.
A: How did you do on the Physics exam?
B: I was lucky to pass.
A: ¿Qué te preguntaron en la entrevista de trabajo el otro día?
B: ¡Justo las cosas que había preparado!
A: ¡Qué orto!
A: ¿What did they ask you at the job interview the other day?
B: Exactly what I prepared for!
A: Lucky you!
Romper Las Pelotas/Las Bolas/Los Huevos
Back to the testicles.
This phrase is used to express an annoyance towards another person.
Here are a few variations of the popular phrase...
No me rompas las pelotas. => Stop nagging me.
La conozco, es una rompe-huevos.
I know her, she is annoying.
¿Por qué no te dejás de romper las bolas? => Why don’t you stop nagging?
You can use pelotas, bolas, or huevos interchangeably. Again, careful on who you use these with!
Dar Una Mano
To lend a hand, to help someone out.
Here are a few examples on how to use this phrase:
Tengo que pintar la pared del living, ¿Me das una mano? => I have to paint the living room wall, would you lend me a hand?
Por favor, dame una mano con la tarea de matemática que me cuesta un huevo entender. => Please, give me a hand with math homework, it is very difficult for me to understand.
See what I did there?
I combined two popular phrases. You are going to be an expert in no time!
A: ¿Terminaste la tarea de matemática?
B: Sí, Cecilia me dio una mano con las cosas que no entendía.
A: ¿Did you finish your math homework?
B: Yes, Cecilia helped me out with the things I didn’t understand.
Le Di La Mano y Me Agarró El Brazo
I lent a hand and they took an arm.
This one makes sense right?
This refers to a person who you tried to help and then you were taken advantage of.
Have you ever lent someone a hand and they took your arm?
¿Alguna vez diste una mano y te agarraron el brazo?
Ser Codo
Codo in Spanish literally means elbow.
To be codo (or codito) simply means to be cheap. Don’t get caught being codo!
A: ¿Cómo te fue en la primera cita? B: Muy bien.
A: ¿Pagaste por la cena? B: No…
A: ¡Qué codo!
A: ¿How did it go on first date? B: Very well.
A: Did you pay for dinner? B: No…
A: What a cheapo!
¡No seas codito! Todos aportamos 100 pesos para el regalo. => Don’t be cheap! We all contributed 100 pesos for the gift.
Una Gamba, Hacer la Gamba
Need another Spanish slang word for a body part?
Gamba is slang for pierna which means leg in English. You can use this word by itself in a sentence.
For example:
Corré las gambas así me puedo sentar. => Move your legs so I can sit.
However, you can also use it figuratively, as follows:
- Money
Una gamba means one hundred pesos.
Este desodorante me costó una gamba. => This deodorant costs 100 pesos.
- Helping out, being supportive
A: ¿Vas a la fiesta esta noche?
B: Todavía no sé.
A: Dale, haceme la gamba que va a ir Clara…
A: Are you going to the party tonight?
B: I don’t know yet.
A: Come on, back me up. Carla is going to be there…
Meter La Pata
Pata is a slang word for foot. Thus, Meter la pata means to screw up.
Pretty plain and simple.
Let’s look at one example.
Le dije a nuestra jefa que estabas de vacaciones en Hawaii. Ella pensaba que estabas enferma. ¡Me parece que metí la pata!
I told our boss you were on vacation in Hawaii. She thought you were sick. I think I screwed up!
Ser Cabezón or Cabeza Dura
The Spanish word for “head” is cabeza.
Cabezón (big headed) or cabeza dura (hard headed) are used interchangeably to talk about someone who is stubborn.
Here are a couple of examples:
Llamala hoy. No esperes otro día más. No seas cabeza dura.
Call her today. Don’t wait another day. Don’t be stubborn.
No seas cabezón, tomate un taxi o vas a llegar tarde. => Don’t be stubborn, take a cab or you’ll be late.
Ojo
Ojo is the Spanish word for “eye.”
When you look at someone and say “ojo,” accompanied by the right tone and facial expression, you are saying “watch it,” “beware,” or “be careful.”
Here are a couple possible scenarios:
Ojo que el último tren pasa a la 1 de la mañana. Si lo perdés tenés que esperar hasta las 5.
Be careful that the last train comes through at 1a.m. If you miss it you have to wait until 5.
Ojo con portarte mal que sino te vas a ir a dormir sin ver la película. Watch how you behave, otherwise you’re going to go to bed without watching the movie.
Ojo con ese hombre que es un estafador. => Beware of that man, he’s a schemer.
A: Martín, estoy saliendo con tu hermana.
B: Ojo…más te vale que la trates bien.
A: Martín, I’m going out with your sister.
B: Watch it…you better treat her well.
Did You Learn Any Spanish Words For Body Parts Today?
And there you have it!
Spanish is a very colorful language plagued with expressions like these, that make for interesting conversations.
Our hope is that some of these words will stick in your brain with the help of fun slang expressions like these above.
Sure, you could just look at the list of the body parts and their translation in Spanish, but would you have actually remembered any of them?
Language is an evolving creature that will keep you on your toes. Get on with the pop culture and have fun using these phrases!
What's one Spanish slang phrase you are going to use?