Inklingo
← Dictionary

espalda

es-PAL-da/esˈpalda/

back

Also: back
NounfA1
A simple illustration showing the bare back of a human figure, focusing on the area from the shoulders down to the waist.

📝 In Action

Me duele mucho la espalda después de correr.

A1

My back hurts a lot after running.

Por favor, siéntate con la espalda recta.

A2

Please, sit with your back straight.

Lleva una mochila muy pesada en la espalda.

A2

He's carrying a very heavy backpack on his back.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • dorso (back, torso)
  • lomo (back (usually for animals), loin)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • dolor de espalda – back pain
  • masaje de espalda – back massage
  • de espaldas – with one's back turned

Idioms & Expressions

  • a espaldas de alguien – To do something without someone knowing; behind someone's back.
  • dar la espalda a alguien – To ignore, abandon, or refuse to help someone.
  • cuidarse las espaldas – To be careful and protect oneself from betrayal; to watch your back.

backstroke

NounfB1
A storybook illustration of a swimmer lying on their back in blue water, performing the backstroke swimming style.

📝 In Action

El nadador ganó la medalla de oro en los 100 metros espalda.

B1

The swimmer won the gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke.

Mi estilo de natación favorito es la espalda.

B1

My favorite swimming style is the backstroke.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • nadar de espalda – to swim backstroke
  • competición de espalda – backstroke competition

backing, support

NounfB2formal
An illustration showing a small, confident figure receiving protection and support from a large, powerful figure standing directly behind them, acting as a shield.

📝 In Action

El candidato tiene la espalda del partido para las elecciones.

B2

The candidate has the party's backing for the elections.

Con un amigo así, sabes que tienes las espaldas cubiertas.

B2

With a friend like that, you know you've got your back covered.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Idioms & Expressions

  • cubrirle las espaldas a alguien – To protect someone, to cover for them.

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "espalda" in Spanish:

backstroke→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: espalda

Question 1 of 2

In the sentence 'Mi jefe siempre me cubre las espaldas', what does 'espaldas' mean?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
faldaguirnaldaesmeralda
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from Vulgar Latin '*spatula*', which was a smaller version of the Latin word 'spatha', meaning 'broad sword' or 'blade'. The word was used to refer to the shoulder blade, which has a flat, blade-like shape, and eventually came to mean the entire back.

First recorded: Around the 13th century.

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: spalla (shoulder)French: épaule (shoulder)Portuguese: espalda (back, archaic), espádua (shoulder blade)

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'espalda' and 'atrás'?

Think of 'espalda' as the *thing* (the noun for your back) and 'atrás' as the *place* (the location 'behind' or 'in the back'). You can say 'Me duele la espalda' (My back hurts), but not 'Me duele atrás'. You can say 'El perro está atrás' (The dog is behind/in the back).

Is 'espalda' ever masculine?

Nope, never! It's always feminine: 'la espalda', 'una espalda', 'las espaldas'. It's one of those words you just have to memorize with its 'la'.