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músculo

MOOS-koo-loh/ˈmus.ku.lo/

“músculo” means “muscle” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

muscle

Also: flesh
NounmA1
A detailed, colorful illustration of a human upper arm showing a strong bicep muscle.

📝 In Action

Me duele el músculo del brazo después de ir al gimnasio.

A1

My arm muscle hurts after going to the gym.

El corazón es el músculo más importante del cuerpo.

A2

The heart is the most important muscle in the body.

Tienes que estirar para no lastimarte ningún músculo.

B1

You have to stretch so you don't hurt any muscle.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ganar músculo – to gain muscle
  • dolor muscular – muscle pain
  • músculo cardíaco – heart muscle

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser puro músculo – to be very fit or have almost no body fat

muscle, clout

Also: strength
NounmB2
A powerful lion standing tall on a rock, representing strength and authority.

📝 In Action

La empresa mostró su músculo financiero con la nueva compra.

B2

The company showed its financial muscle with the new purchase.

El partido político usó todo su músculo para ganar las elecciones.

C1

The political party used all its clout to win the elections.

Necesitamos más músculo en el departamento de ventas.

B2

We need more manpower/strength in the sales department.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • músculo financiero – financial strength
  • músculo político – political clout
  • mostrar músculo – to flex one's muscles / show strength

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: músculo

Question 1 of 3

Which of these phrases means 'to gain muscle'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
muscular(muscular / to develop muscle) — Adjective / Verb
musculoso(muscular/buff) — Adjective
musculatura(musculature/muscle system) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
obstáculoespectáculovehículo
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'musculus', which literally means 'little mouse'. Ancient people thought that muscles moving under the skin looked like small mice running around.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: muscleFrench: muscleItalian: muscolo

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'músculo' masculine or feminine?

It is always masculine: 'el músculo' or 'los músculos'.

Do I always need the accent mark on 'músculo'?

Yes, in the noun form it always requires the accent on the first 'u' because it is an 'esdrújula' word (stressed on the third-to-last syllable).

Can I use 'músculo' to describe someone who is strong?

Usually, we use the adjective 'musculoso' to describe a person, but you can say 'es puro músculo' to mean they are very fit.