hembra
/EM-brah (like 'em' in 'ember' followed by 'brah')/
female
Depicting 'hembra' as a female animal (animal biology context), specifically a lioness.
📝 In Action
Esta leona es la hembra alfa de la manada.
A2This lioness is the alpha female of the pride.
Nació un cachorro macho y dos hembras.
A2One male puppy and two females were born.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
Even though it refers to animals, 'hembra' is always a feminine noun and takes feminine articles (la hembra, una hembra).
⭐ Usage Tips
Biology vs. People
Use 'hembra' mainly for animals, plants, or technical contexts. Use 'mujer' for adult human females and 'niña' or 'chica' for young human females.
Illustrating 'hembra' as a colloquial term emphasizing a strong woman.
hembra(noun)
woman
?colloquial, emphasizing gender identity or strength
gal
?very informal, sometimes slightly crude
📝 In Action
Ella es una hembra de carácter, no se deja intimidar.
C1She is a woman of strong character, she doesn't let herself be intimidated. (Implies toughness)
¡Qué hembra tan guapa!
B2What a beautiful woman/gal! (Highly informal/colloquial, potentially crude)
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Hembra' for People
Mistake: "Using 'hembra' in formal or neutral conversation to refer to a woman."
Correction: Always use 'mujer' (woman) or 'señora' (lady) for respectful, standard conversation. 'Hembra' usually has a crude or overly biological sound when referring to humans.
⭐ Usage Tips
Tone Warning
Be very cautious about using 'hembra' to describe a person. In many Spanish-speaking regions, it is considered rude, objectifying, or highly vulgar, even if sometimes used among friends in a specific context.
Visualizing 'hembra' as the receiving part of a joint, or a socket.
hembra(noun)
socket
?the receiving part of a joint
receptacle
?electrical or mechanical fitting
,eye
?of a hook and eye fastener
📝 In Action
Necesitas alinear el macho con la hembra para cerrar la cerradura.
C1You need to align the male part with the female part (socket) to close the lock.
La conexión tiene una cabeza macho y una hembra.
C1The connection has a male head and a female head (receptacle).
💡 Grammar Points
Technical Gender Analogy
In technical Spanish, 'hembra' (female) is used for the part that receives or contains something, while 'macho' (male) is the part that inserts or connects.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: hembra
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'hembra' in its most common, neutral meaning?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'hembra' considered offensive when referring to a woman?
While it literally means 'female,' using 'hembra' for a person often strips away their individual identity, reducing them simply to their biological sex. It is usually perceived as crude, objectifying, or too clinical. The standard, respectful word is 'mujer'.
Is 'hembra' ever used as an adjective?
Yes, although it primarily functions as a noun, it can sometimes be used like an adjective following a noun, such as 'la cría hembra' (the female offspring). It always refers to the female gender.