cintura
/seen-TOO-rah/
waist
Cintura refers to the waist, the middle part of the human body.
cintura(noun)
waist
?the middle part of the human body
waistline
?the measurement around the middle of the body
📝 In Action
Me duele la cintura después de correr.
A1My waist hurts after running.
Ella puso sus manos en la cintura.
A2She put her hands on her waist.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'the' instead of 'my'
In Spanish, when talking about body parts like 'cintura,' we usually say 'the waist' (la cintura) instead of 'my waist' if it's obvious whose body it is.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Cintura vs. Cinturón
Mistake: "Using 'cintura' to mean the leather strap you wear with pants."
Correction: Use 'cintura' for the body part and 'cinturón' for the belt accessory.
⭐ Usage Tips
Identifying the gender
Since it ends in -a, it is a feminine word. Always use 'la' or 'una' with it.
Cintura can also mean the waist of a piece of clothing.
📝 In Action
Estos pantalones me quedan grandes de la cintura.
A2These pants are too big at the waist.
In a figurative sense, cintura represents flexibility and the ability to adapt quickly.
cintura(noun)
flexibility
?the ability to react quickly or adapt to a situation
agility
?physical or mental quickness
📝 In Action
El político mostró mucha cintura para evitar el conflicto.
C1The politician showed a lot of flexibility to avoid the conflict.
⭐ Usage Tips
Metaphorical use
Think of this like a soccer player dodging an opponent; they use their hips (waist) to change direction quickly. This 'agility' is what 'cintura' represents in business or politics.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cintura
Question 1 of 2
How do you say 'These pants are tight at the waist'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cintura' used for both men and women?
Yes, 'cintura' is the anatomical term for the waist area regardless of gender.
What is the difference between 'cintura' and 'cadera'?
'Cintura' is the waist (the narrowest part of the torso), while 'cadera' refers to the hips (the wider part below the waist).