cuello

/KWEH-yoh/

neck

The neck is the body part connecting the head to the torso.

cuello(noun)

mA1

neck

The body part connecting the head to the torso.

Also:

cervical spine

In medical contexts.

📝 In Action

Me duele el cuello por dormir en una mala posición.

My neck hurts from sleeping in a bad position.

Ella lleva un collar elegante en su cuello.

She is wearing an elegant necklace on her neck.

Por favor, estira el cuello antes de empezar el ejercicio.

Please, stretch your neck before starting the exercise.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

dolor de cuello – neck pain
torcerse el cuello – to twist one's neck

💡 Grammar Points

Using 'el' instead of 'mi'

When talking about your own body parts, Spanish often uses the article 'el' or 'la' instead of 'mi'. For example, you say 'Me duele el cuello' (The neck hurts me), not 'Me duele mi cuello'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing 'cuello' and 'garganta'

Mistake: "Using 'cuello' when you mean the throat."

Correction: 'Cuello' is the outside part. If you mean the inside passage used for eating/breathing, use 'garganta' (throat).

⭐ Usage Tips

Describing pain

Use the structure 'Doler (conjugado) + el/la + body part' to describe aches: 'Me duele el cuello' (My neck hurts).

A simple illustration of a blue collared shirt, highlighting the folded fabric collar around the opening for the neck.

A collar is the part of a garment that encircles the neck.

cuello(noun)

mA2

collar

The part of a garment around the neck.

Also:

neckline

The shape of the neck opening on a shirt or dress.

neck

The narrow part of a bottle or a musical instrument (like a guitar).

📝 In Action

Tienes una mancha en el cuello de la camisa.

You have a stain on the collar of your shirt.

Necesito una blusa con cuello en V para este traje.

I need a blouse with a V-neck for this suit.

El cuello de la botella es muy delgado.

The neck of the bottle is very thin.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

cuello alto – turtleneck or high collar
cuello redondo – round neck (crew neck)
cuello de solapa – lapel collar

Idioms & Expressions

cuello blanco – a white-collar worker (someone who works in an office)

💡 Grammar Points

Common descriptive patterns

You can describe the style of a collar by placing the adjective after 'cuello': 'cuello alto' (high neck) or specifying the type using 'de': 'cuello de tortuga' (turtleneck).

⭐ Usage Tips

Visualizing the word

If you can put a shirt on it, or a necklace, it’s 'cuello'. This helps link the body part to the clothing term.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: cuello

Question 1 of 2

Which Spanish phrase means 'I need a sweater with a high neck'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

collar(necklace, collar (for dogs)) - noun

cervical(cervical (related to the neck)) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'cuello' and 'garganta'?

'Cuello' refers to the external, visible part of the neck that holds your head up and wears necklaces. 'Garganta' refers to the internal tube or passage (the throat) used for swallowing and breathing.

Why is 'cuello' masculine even though it ends in 'o'?

'Cuello' is masculine ('el cuello'). While many nouns ending in 'o' are masculine, its gender simply needs to be learned, just like 'la mano' (hand) is feminine even though it ends in 'o'.