Inklingo
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diente

/dee-EN-tay/

tooth

A close-up illustration of a single, large, healthy white molar tooth floating against a simple colored background.

Diente can mean a human or animal tooth used for biting and chewing.

diente(noun)

mA1

tooth

?

human or animal body part used for biting and chewing

📝 In Action

Necesito ir al dentista porque me duele un diente.

A1

I need to go to the dentist because a tooth hurts.

Los tiburones tienen muchas filas de dientes afilados.

A2

Sharks have many rows of sharp teeth.

Mi hijo perdió su primer diente de leche hoy.

A2

My son lost his first baby tooth today.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • lavarse los dientes – to brush one's teeth
  • diente de leche – baby tooth
  • sacar un diente – to pull a tooth

Idioms & Expressions

  • diente de león – dandelion (a common weed)
  • estar con el diente largo – to be very hungry or greedy for something

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Check

Even though 'diente' ends in '-e', it is masculine: el diente. This is an exception to some common rules, so remember it with the article.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Possessive Articles

Mistake: "Me lavo *mis* dientes."

Correction: Me lavo *los* dientes. (In Spanish, when talking about routine actions on body parts, you usually use 'el/la/los/las' instead of 'mi/tu/su'.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Dental Health Terms

Combine 'diente' with 'muela' (molar/back tooth) and 'encía' (gum) to discuss dental health effectively.

A detailed illustration of a brass mechanical gear wheel, highlighting one sharp, triangular cog.

Diente also refers to a cog, which is the projecting tooth on a mechanical wheel.

diente(noun)

mB1

cog

?

part of a gear or mechanical wheel

Also:

tine

?

of a fork or rake

,

blade/tooth

?

of a saw or cutting instrument

📝 In Action

La sierra de mano tiene muchos dientes para cortar madera.

B1

The handsaw has many teeth/blades for cutting wood.

Si se rompe un diente del engranaje, la máquina deja de funcionar.

B2

If a cog on the gear breaks, the machine stops working.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • púa (spike/prong)

⭐ Usage Tips

Technical Context

In engineering or mechanics, 'diente' specifically refers to the interlocking projections on gears or wheels.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: diente

Question 1 of 2

Which Spanish phrase correctly describes the action of cleaning your teeth?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

dentista(dentist) - noun
dental(dental) - adjective
dentadura(set of teeth/dentures) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'diente' masculine or feminine?

'Diente' is always masculine: *el diente*. You should use masculine articles and adjectives with it.

What is the difference between 'diente' and 'muela'?

'Diente' is the general term for 'tooth.' 'Muela' specifically refers to a 'molar' or 'back tooth' used for grinding food.