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cabecera

kah-beh-SEH-rah/kaβeˈseɾa/

“cabecera” means “headboard” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:

headboard, bedside

Also: head of the bed
NounfA2
A wooden bed with a prominent, elegant headboard against a simple wall.

📝 In Action

Puse el cuadro sobre la cabecera de la cama.

A2

I put the painting above the headboard of the bed.

Este es mi libro de cabecera.

B1

This is my go-to book (the one I keep by my bed).

La madre estuvo a la cabecera de su hijo enfermo.

B2

The mother was at her sick son's bedside.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • cabezal (headpiece/headboard)

Antonyms

  • pies (foot of the bed)

Common Collocations

  • libro de cabecera – bedside book (favorite book)
  • médico de cabecera – family doctor / primary care physician

Idioms & Expressions

  • estar a la cabecera – to be supporting someone who is ill or dying

header, head of the table

Also: masthead, headline
NounfB1
A colorful digital document showing a distinct top section with a logo and a banner.

📝 In Action

El nombre del diario aparece en la cabecera.

B1

The name of the newspaper appears in the masthead (at the top).

El director se sentó a la cabecera de la mesa.

B1

The director sat at the head of the table.

La cabecera del correo electrónico tiene la fecha.

B2

The email header has the date.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • encabezamiento (heading)
  • titular (headline)

Common Collocations

  • cabecera de la página – top of the page
  • presidir la cabecera – to sit at the head (to lead)

county seat, headwaters

Also: main town
NounfB2
Latin America
A central town square with a large government building and a flag, representing a county seat.

📝 In Action

Esa ciudad es la cabecera municipal.

B2

That city is the municipal seat (the main administrative town).

Las cabeceras del río están en las montañas.

C1

The headwaters of the river are in the mountains.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: cabecera

Question 1 of 3

If someone is your 'médico de cabecera', what does that mean?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Derived from the Spanish word 'cabeza' (head), which comes from the Latin 'capitia'. It refers to the place or position where a 'head' is located.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: cabeceira

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'cabecera' the same as 'cabeza'?

No. 'Cabeza' is the physical body part (your head). 'Cabecera' is a position or a piece of furniture (like a headboard).

How do I say 'head of the table' in Spanish?

You use 'la cabecera de la mesa'.

Does 'cabecera' always refer to a physical head?

Not necessarily. It can refer to the start of a river, the header of an email, or the main town in a county.