Inklingo

talón

tah-LOHN/taˈlon/

talón means heel in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

heel

Also: Achilles' heel
NounmA2
A close-up of a person's foot showing the back part known as the heel.

📝 In Action

Me duele mucho el talón después de correr.

A2

My heel hurts a lot after running.

El zapato me roza en el talón.

B1

The shoe is rubbing against my heel.

Las matemáticas son su talón de Aquiles.

B2

Math is his Achilles' heel.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • calcañar (heel (more technical/old-fashioned))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • talón de AquilesAchilles' heel (weak spot)
  • de pies a talónfrom head to toe

Idioms & Expressions

  • dar en el talónTo find the exact spot where someone is vulnerable.

stub, voucher

Also: check
NounmB2
A small rectangular piece of paper torn from a larger ticket.

📝 In Action

Por favor, guarde el talón de su compra.

B1

Please keep your purchase stub.

El cartero me dejó un talón de aviso.

B2

The mailman left me a notification slip.

Firmó un talón bancario para pagar la deuda.

C1

He signed a bank check to pay the debt.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • comprobante (receipt/voucher)
  • cheque (check)
  • resguardo (receipt/safekeeping slip)

Common Collocations

  • talón de pagopayment voucher
  • talonario de chequescheckbook

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "talón" in Spanish:

achilles' heelstub

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: talón

Question 1 of 3

If you are at a clothing store and they give you a small slip of paper to collect your clothes later, what is that called?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
talonario(book of stubs or checks)Noun
talonazo(a blow with the heel)Noun
talonear(to walk fast or to spur a horse with heels)Verb
🎵 Rhymes
corazónbalcóncampeón
📚 Etymology

From the Latin 'talus', which referred to the ankle bone or a die used in games (since ancient dice were made from animal ankle bones).

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: talonItalian: tallone

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'talón' the same as 'tacón'?

No. 'Talón' is the back of your foot. 'Tacón' is the solid part added to the bottom of a shoe to give it height (like a high heel).

What does 'talón de Aquiles' mean in conversation?

Just like in English, it refers to someone's specific weakness or vulnerable point.

Can I use 'talón' for a bank check in Mexico?

While people will understand you, 'cheque' is much more common in Mexico and Latin America. 'Talón' for a check is more frequent in Spain.