cerebro

/seh-REH-broh/

brain

The primary meaning of cerebro refers to the physical organ, the brain.

cerebro(Noun)

mA2

brain

the physical organ in the head

Also:

cerebrum

technical/medical term

📝 In Action

El cerebro humano es un órgano muy complejo.

The human brain is a very complex organ.

Es importante proteger el cerebro usando un casco al andar en bicicleta.

It's important to protect the brain by wearing a helmet when riding a bike.

Word Connections

Synonyms

sesos (brains (colloquial))
materia gris (grey matter)

Common Collocations

daño cerebral – brain damage
tumor cerebral – brain tumor
cirugía de cerebro – brain surgery

Idioms & Expressions

lavado de cerebro – brainwashing

💡 Grammar Points

It's a 'He' Word (Masculine)

'Cerebro' is a masculine noun because it ends in '-o'. This means you'll always use 'el' or 'un' with it. For example, 'el cerebro' (the brain).

⭐ Usage Tips

Singular vs. Plural

Usually, you talk about 'el cerebro' (the brain) in the singular form, even when talking about people in general. The plural 'cerebros' (brains) is used when you're talking about multiple, individual brains, like in a science lab or a zombie movie!

A person sitting at a desk, looking thoughtful, with a cluster of brightly glowing lightbulbs floating directly above their head, symbolizing genius and planning.

Figuratively, cerebro can refer to the 'mastermind' or 'brains' of an operation due to their intelligence.

cerebro(Noun)

mB2

mastermind

the person who plans everything

Also:

brains

referring to intelligence, e.g., 'the brains of the operation'

intellect

mental capacity

📝 In Action

Mi hermana es el cerebro del negocio familiar.

My sister is the brains of the family business.

Necesitamos un buen cerebro para resolver este problema.

We need a good brain (a smart person) to solve this problem.

Word Connections

Synonyms

mente (mind)
intelecto (intellect)
genio (genius)

Common Collocations

ser el cerebro de algo – to be the brains behind something
fuga de cerebros – brain drain (emigration of intelligent people)

Idioms & Expressions

exprimir el cerebro – to rack one's brain, to think very hard
romperse el cerebro – to wrack one's brain

💡 Grammar Points

Stays Masculine for People

When 'cerebro' means 'mastermind,' it refers to a person. Even if that person is female, the word 'cerebro' itself always stays masculine. For example: 'Ella es el cerebro del equipo' (She is the mastermind of the team).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing 'Cerebro' and 'Mente'

Mistake: "Using 'cerebro' when you mean 'mind' in the sense of thoughts, feelings, or consciousness."

Correction: Use 'mente' for 'mind' (e.g., 'Tengo muchas cosas en la mente' - I have a lot on my mind). Use 'cerebro' for the physical organ or for the 'mastermind' of an operation.

⭐ Usage Tips

Giving a High Compliment

Calling someone 'el cerebro' of a team or project is a big compliment. It means you see them as the most intelligent person, the one responsible for the strategy and key ideas.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: cerebro

Question 1 of 2

If you want to say someone is the 'mastermind' of a project, which sentence is correct?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

cerebral(cerebral, relating to the brain) - adjective

cerebelo(cerebellum) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'cerebro' and 'sesos'?

'Cerebro' is the standard, neutral word for 'brain' that you can use in any situation. 'Sesos' also means 'brains' but it's more informal and is always used in the plural. You might hear '¡Usa los sesos!' (Use your brains!), which is a very colloquial command.

Can I use 'cerebro' to talk about the 'brain' of a computer?

While people would understand what you mean, it's much more common to use 'el procesador' (the processor) or 'la CPU' for a computer's 'brain.' 'Cerebro' is almost always used for living beings.