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oreja

oh-REH-hahoˈɾexa

ear (external part)

NounfA1
A simple, close-up illustration of the external human ear, showing the visible structure.

📝 In Action

Me duele la oreja después de nadar en la piscina.

A1

My ear hurts after swimming in the pool.

Tiene las orejas pequeñas y redondas.

A2

She has small, round ears.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • dolor de oreja – earache
  • lavarse las orejas – to wash one's ears

Idioms & Expressions

  • Ser todo orejas – To be all ears; listening very attentively.
  • Tirar de la oreja a alguien – To give someone a light punishment or a warning (often playfully to a child).

handle

Also: lug
NounfB1
A simple, brightly colored ceramic mug viewed from the side, clearly showing its handle.

📝 In Action

Se me rompió la oreja de la taza de café.

B1

The handle of my coffee cup broke off.

Las cestas tienen una oreja fuerte para colgarlas.

B2

The baskets have a strong loop/handle to hang them up.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • asa (handle (general))

pig's ear

Also: pastry (shaped like an ear)
NounfB2informal
Spain
A single piece of cooked pig's ear meat resting on a plain plate.

📝 In Action

En Galicia es común comer oreja de cerdo en invierno.

B2

In Galicia, it is common to eat pig's ear in winter.

Quiero una oreja con azúcar y canela para el postre.

C1

I want an 'oreja' pastry with sugar and cinnamon for dessert.

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "oreja" in Spanish:

handle→lug→pig's ear→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: oreja

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'oreja' in its figurative meaning?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
oído(inner ear, sense of hearing) — Noun
auricular(earphone, earpiece) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word *auricula*, which was a diminutive form of *auris* (meaning 'ear'). The ending changed over time from the Latin diminutive, giving us the modern Spanish word.

First recorded: Medieval Latin period

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: orelhaItalian: orecchio

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'oreja' and 'oído'?

'Oreja' is the external, visible flap of the ear (what you wear earrings on). 'Oído' refers to the internal parts of the ear and the actual sense of hearing itself.

Is 'oreja' only used for human ears?

No, 'oreja' is used for the external ears of both humans and animals (like dogs or elephants). However, the smaller, internal parts are usually referred to as 'oído'.