cabeza
/ka-BEH-sa/
head
The literal meaning of 'cabeza' refers to the physical head.
📝 In Action
Me duele la cabeza.
A1My head hurts.
El bebé tiene una cabeza pequeña.
A1The baby has a small head.
Ponte el casco para protegerte la cabeza.
A2Put on the helmet to protect your head.
💡 Grammar Points
Talking About Your Own Body
In Spanish, you usually use words like 'el', 'la', 'los', or 'las' (called definite articles) with body parts, not words like 'mi' (my) or 'tu' (your). So, you say 'Me duele la cabeza' (The head hurts me) instead of 'Me duele mi cabeza'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Mi' Instead of 'La'
Mistake: "Me lavo mi pelo y mi cabeza."
Correction: Me lavo el pelo y la cabeza. (I wash my hair and my head.) In Spanish, when it's clear whose body part you're talking about, you use 'el' or 'la' instead of 'mi' or 'tu'.
'Cabeza' can mean the leader or the front of a line or organization.
cabeza(Noun)
📝 In Action
Mi madre es la cabeza de la familia.
B1My mother is the head of the family.
El equipo está a la cabeza de la liga.
B1The team is at the top of the league.
El director es la cabeza visible de la empresa.
B2The director is the visible head of the company.
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Meanings
Just like in English, 'cabeza' can mean the most important part or person of something. Think of the 'head' of a company or the 'head' of a table. It's a very common figurative use.
Figuratively, 'cabeza' can represent the mind, intellect, or good sense.
📝 In Action
Usa la cabeza y piensa en una solución.
B1Use your head and think of a solution.
No tengo cabeza para estudiar hoy, estoy muy cansado.
B2I don't have the mental energy (head) to study today, I'm very tired.
Mi abuelo todavía tiene una cabeza muy clara.
B2My grandfather still has a very clear mind.
⭐ Usage Tips
'Cabeza' vs. 'Mente'
'Cabeza' often refers to practical thinking, problem-solving, or memory ('usa la cabeza'). 'Mente' is more about your inner world, consciousness, and thoughts ('tengo muchas cosas en la mente'). They can sometimes overlap.
This term is used when counting livestock, referring to each individual animal.
📝 In Action
El granjero vendió veinte cabezas de ganado.
C1The farmer sold twenty head of cattle.
El rebaño tiene más de cien cabezas.
C1The flock has more than one hundred head.
⭐ Usage Tips
Counting Animals
In Spanish, just like in English, you can count livestock by the 'head'. You'll see this with words like 'ganado' (cattle) or 'ovejas' (sheep). It's a way of counting the whole animal.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cabeza
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'cabeza' to mean 'leader' or 'person in charge'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Spanish speakers say 'la cabeza' instead of 'mi cabeza' when talking about their own head?
It's a cool feature of Spanish! When you use a verb like 'doler' (to hurt) or 'lavar' (to wash) with a reflexive pronoun like 'me' or 'te', it's already clear whose body part it is. So, saying 'mi cabeza' (my head) would be redundant. You just say 'la cabeza' (the head), and the 'me' tells everyone it's yours.
What's the difference between 'cabeza' and 'mente'?
Great question! Think of 'cabeza' as the physical head and also the ability to think logically or solve problems ('use your head'). 'Mente' is more about the abstract mind—your thoughts, feelings, and consciousness ('it crossed my mind'). While they can sometimes overlap, 'cabeza' is more about practical intelligence and 'mente' is about your inner world.