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hueso

WAY-sohˈwe.so

bone

Also: skeletal part
NounmA1
A simple illustration of a white femur bone resting on a solid background.

📝 In Action

Me rompí un hueso del brazo jugando al fútbol.

A1

I broke a bone in my arm playing soccer.

El perro estaba feliz con su hueso nuevo.

A1

The dog was happy with its new bone.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • esqueleto (skeleton)
  • osamenta (collection of bones)

Common Collocations

  • romperse un hueso – to break a bone
  • dejar en los huesos – to leave someone extremely thin (literally: in the bones)

pit, stone

NounmA2
Mexico, Central America
A colorful illustration of a ripe peach sliced in half, clearly showing the large, round brown pit in the center.

📝 In Action

Ten cuidado de no morder el hueso del aguacate.

A2

Be careful not to bite the avocado pit.

Tiré los huesos de las cerezas a la basura.

B1

I threw the cherry pits in the trash.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • semilla (seed (general))
  • pepa (pit/seed (often South America))

a drag, tough nut to crack

Also: lazy person
NounmB2informal
Spain
An illustration of a small, frustrated person straining intensely to push a gigantic, rough gray stone block, symbolizing a difficult task.

📝 In Action

Esta clase de matemáticas es un hueso, no entiendo nada.

B2

This math class is a real drag/tough, I don't understand anything.

Mi jefe es un hueso, siempre pone problemas.

C1

My boss is a difficult person; he always causes problems.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser un hueso duro de roer – to be a difficult person or problem to deal with

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "hueso" in Spanish:

a drag→bone→lazy person→pit→skeletal part→stone→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: hueso

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'hueso' to mean a difficult task?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
óseo(bony, osseous (adjective)) — Adjective
osario(ossuary (place for bones)) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes directly from the Latin word *ossum*, which also meant 'bone.' The initial 'h' was added in Spanish writing centuries ago, even though it was never pronounced.

First recorded: Around the 10th century in early Romance languages.

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: ossoFrench: os

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if 'hueso' means a body part or a fruit pit?

Context is key! If you are talking about anatomy, injuries, or animals, it means 'bone.' If you are talking about eating fruit or preparing a recipe, it means 'pit' or 'stone.'

Why does 'hueso' start with an 'h' if it’s silent?

The 'h' is a historical remnant from the word's Latin root. Spanish kept the letter in the spelling, but the sound was dropped over time. You should always ignore the 'h' when speaking.