rodilla

roh-DEE-yah/roˈðiʎa/

“rodilla” means “knee” in Spanish (body part).

knee

Also: kneecap

NounfA1

A close-up illustration of a child's bare leg, clearly showing the knee joint bent slightly.

📝 In Action

Me golpeé la rodilla jugando al fútbol y ahora me duele.

I hit my knee playing soccer and now it hurts.

El niño se puso de rodillas para recoger su juguete.

The boy got down on his knees to pick up his toy.

Necesitas doblar las rodillas para levantar la caja correctamente.

You need to bend your knees to lift the box correctly.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

de rodillas – on one's knees (kneeling)
hincarse de rodillas – to kneel down
dolor de rodilla – knee pain

Idioms & Expressions

doblar la rodilla – to yield, to submit (often figurative)

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "rodilla" in Spanish:

knee→kneecap→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: rodilla

Question 1 of 2

Which phrase correctly describes someone kneeling down?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

rodillazo(a blow with the knee, kneeing) — Noun

rodillera(kneepad, knee brace) — Noun

🎵 Rhymes▼

silla milla

📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the Latin term *rotella*, which meant 'small wheel.' This name was given because of the round, wheel-like shape of the kneecap.

First recorded: Medieval Spanish

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: rodilhaItalian: rotella

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'rodilla' feminine?

'Rodilla' follows a common pattern in Spanish where nouns ending in -a are feminine. Many body parts, such as 'la cabeza' (head) and 'la pierna' (leg), also follow this rule.

How do I refer to the protective gear for the knee?

The word for a kneepad or knee brace is 'rodillera'.