cuernos
/KWEHR-nohs/
horns
The most literal translation of cuernos is the hard appendages found on the heads of animals, such as these bull horns.
cuernos(noun)
horns
?animal appendages
antlers
?deer/elk horns
,horn
?musical instrument or material (plural)
📝 In Action
Los cuernos del toro eran impresionantes y afilados.
B1The bull's horns were impressive and sharp.
El cazador tiene unos cuernos de venado colgados en su cabaña.
B2The hunter has some deer antlers hanging in his cabin.
💡 Grammar Points
Plural Form
Remember that 'cuernos' is the plural form. The singular is 'cuerno' (one horn).
Figuratively, cuernos (horns) is a common Spanish slang term used to refer to cheating or infidelity in a relationship.
📝 In Action
Descubrió que su pareja le estaba poniendo los cuernos con un compañero de trabajo.
B2She discovered that her partner was cheating on her with a coworker.
Nadie quiere llevar los cuernos en una relación.
C1Nobody wants to be cheated on (literally: to carry the horns) in a relationship.
💡 Grammar Points
Fixed Phrase
This meaning almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'poner los cuernos' (to cheat). You cannot separate the words or use them individually to mean infidelity.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Singular
Mistake: "Mi esposo me puso un cuerno."
Correction: Mi esposo me puso los cuernos. (The idiomatic phrase always requires the plural 'los cuernos'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Informal Language Alert
This phrase is very informal and can be offensive or humorous, depending on the context. Avoid using it in formal settings or written essays.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cuernos
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'cuernos' in its common figurative (non-literal) meaning?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Por qué significa 'cheating'?
The phrase 'poner los cuernos' (to put the horns on someone) is an old European idiom for infidelity. It might come from the idea of a cuckolded husband being given a pair of horns as a symbol of his shame, or from the similarity of the animal's horns to the hidden burden of being cheated on.