orejas

/oh-REH-has/

ears

In anatomy, orejas refers to the external body parts used for hearing.

orejas(noun)

fA1

ears

external body parts

Also:

hearing

when referring to attention (e.g., 'prestar orejas')

📝 In Action

Las orejas de mi perro son muy grandes y puntiagudas.

My dog's ears are very large and pointed.

Me puse pendientes nuevos en las orejas.

I put new earrings in my ears.

Ella tiene las orejas rojas de tanto frío.

Her ears are red from the cold.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

mover las orejas – to wiggle one's ears
tapar las orejas – to cover one's ears

Idioms & Expressions

parar las orejas – To perk up one's ears; to listen carefully or suddenly pay attention.
estar con las orejas tiesas – To be alert and listening very intently.

💡 Grammar Points

Gender and Number

Since 'orejas' is the plural of 'oreja' (ear), it is always a feminine noun and requires feminine plural articles (las) and adjectives (rojas, grandes).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Oreja vs. Oído

Mistake: "Using 'orejas' when referring to the sense of hearing or the inner ear."

Correction: Use 'oído' (inner ear/sense of hearing) for things like earaches or listening ability, and 'orejas' only for the visible, external part.

⭐ Usage Tips

Use with Reflexive Verbs

When talking about your own ears, Spanish often uses reflexive verbs (like 'me duelen') instead of possessives: 'Me duelen las orejas' (My ears hurt).

A bright red ceramic coffee mug sitting on a surface, emphasizing the handle attached to its side.

Colloquially, orejas can also refer to the handles of objects like mugs or jugs.

orejas(noun)

fB1

handles

of a cup, jug, or basket

lapels

of a jacket or coat

Also:

small projections

in architecture or carpentry

📝 In Action

Esta taza de café tiene unas orejas muy pequeñas, es difícil sujetarla.

This coffee cup has very small handles; it's difficult to hold.

Le cosió unas orejas nuevas al bolso de cuero.

She sewed new handles onto the leather bag.

Word Connections

Synonyms

asas (handles (of a container))
solapas (lapels)

💡 Grammar Points

Figurative Plural

This meaning uses the plural 'orejas' most often when referring to objects that naturally have two handles, like a vase or a basket.

⭐ Usage Tips

Context is Key

If you are describing an object, 'orejas' usually means 'handles' or 'loops.' If you are talking about a person or animal, it always means 'ears.'

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: orejas

Question 1 of 2

Which Spanish word should you use if you want to say, 'I have an ear infection'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

oreja(ear (singular)) - noun

oído(inner ear; sense of hearing) - noun

orejón(big-eared person; dried fruit) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'orejas' feminine if it refers to a body part?

Most nouns in Spanish that end in '-a' are feminine, and 'oreja' follows this pattern. Spanish nouns have a fixed gender regardless of what they describe. Since the singular 'oreja' is feminine, the plural 'orejas' also takes feminine articles like 'las'.

When is 'orejas' used to mean 'handles'?

'Orejas' can be used figuratively for parts of objects that stick out, especially handles on cups, jugs, or baskets, because they look similar to ears sticking out from the main body of the object.