mandíbula

man-DEE-boo-lah/manˈdiβula/

“mandíbula” means “jaw” in Spanish (the part of the face that moves when you eat or talk).

jaw

Also: jawbone

NounfB1

A colorful illustration of a friendly crocodile with its mouth wide open, showing its strong lower jaw.

📝 In Action

Me duele la mandíbula después de ir al dentista.

My jaw hurts after going to the dentist.

El león tiene una mandíbula muy fuerte para cazar.

The lion has a very strong jaw for hunting.

Al oír la noticia, se le caía la mandíbula de la sorpresa.

When he heard the news, his jaw dropped in surprise.

Word Connections

Synonyms

quijada (jaw/jawbone)
maxilar (maxilla (technical bone name))

Common Collocations

mandíbula inferior – lower jaw
apretar la mandíbula – to clench one's jaw
fractura de mandíbula – broken jaw

Idioms & Expressions

quedarse con la mandíbula desencajada – to be completely stunned or shocked

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "mandíbula" in Spanish:

jaw→jawbone→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: mandíbula

Question 1 of 1

If someone says 'Se me cayó la mandíbula', how are they feeling?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

mandibular(relating to the jaw) — Adjective

🎵 Rhymes▼

fíbulalívula

📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'mandibula', which comes from the verb 'mandere', meaning 'to chew'. It is literally the tool used for chewing.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: mandibleFrench: mandibule

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'mandíbula' different from 'quijada'?

They are mostly the same! 'Mandíbula' is a bit more scientific or formal, while 'quijada' is a bit more common in everyday speech, though both are perfectly understood.

How do you say 'lower jaw' vs 'upper jaw'?

You use the adjectives 'inferior' (lower) and 'superior' (upper). So: 'mandíbula inferior' and 'mandíbula superior'.