costilla
“costilla” means “rib” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
rib
Also: cutlet
📝 In Action
Me duele la costilla derecha cuando respiro profundo.
A2My right rib hurts when I breathe deeply.
Pedimos una ración de costillas de cerdo a la barbacoa.
A1We ordered a portion of BBQ pork ribs.
El médico confirmó que no hay ninguna costilla rota.
B1The doctor confirmed that there are no broken ribs.
rib / frame
📝 In Action
El viento era tan fuerte que dobló una costilla del paraguas.
B2The wind was so strong it bent a rib of the umbrella.
Los carpinteros están instalando las costillas del casco del barco.
C1The carpenters are installing the ribs of the ship's hull.
Cada costilla del ala del avión debe ser inspeccionada.
C2Every rib of the airplane wing must be inspected.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: costilla
Question 1 of 3
Which of these would you likely order at a restaurant?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'costilla', which is a smaller version (diminutive) of 'costa', meaning 'rib' or 'side'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'costilla' the same as 'chuleta'?
Not exactly. A 'costilla' is the rib bone itself or a cut of meat containing it. A 'chuleta' is more like a 'chop' or 'cutlet'—a specific slice of meat (like a pork chop) that usually includes the rib.
How do I say 'I have a broken rib'?
You should say 'Tengo una costilla rota'.
Can 'costilla' be used for inanimate objects?
Yes, it refers to the internal support structures (the 'bones') of things like ships, airplanes, and umbrellas.