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uñas

OO-nyahsˈuɲas

“uñas” means “fingernails” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

fingernails, toenails

Also: nails
NounfA1
A close-up view of a human hand showing five fingers with neatly trimmed fingernails against a soft background.

📝 In Action

Necesito cortar mis uñas porque están muy largas.

A1

I need to cut my nails because they are very long.

Me gusta pintarme las uñas de color rojo.

A2

I like to paint my nails red.

Mi perro no deja de lamerse las uñas de las patas.

A2

My dog won't stop licking the nails on his paws.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • cortar las uñas – to cut the nails
  • pintarse las uñas – to paint one's nails

claws, talons

NounfB1informal
A simple illustration of a large animal paw, such as a tiger or lion, extending sharp, curved claws.

📝 In Action

Cuando lo criticaron, él sacó las uñas y se defendió con fuerza.

B2

When they criticized him, he showed his claws (got defensive) and defended himself fiercely.

Esas dos hermanas son uña y carne; no pueden estar separadas.

B1

Those two sisters are like two peas in a pod (inseparable); they can't be apart.

La vida en la ciudad es dura, hay que luchar con uñas y dientes.

B2

Life in the city is tough, you have to fight tooth and nail.

Word Connections

Idioms & Expressions

  • sacar las uñas – To defend oneself fiercely or become aggressive/defensive.
  • ser uña y carne – To be extremely close or inseparable friends.
  • luchar con uñas y dientes – To fight with great determination, using all possible means.

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "uñas" in Spanish:

fingernails→nails→toenails→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: uñas

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'uñas' to mean 'inseparable friends'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
uña(nail (singular)) — Noun
ungüento(ointment) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
cuñasmuñas
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word *ungula*, which meant 'claw,' 'hoof,' or 'fingernail.' This shared root is why the word is connected to both human nails and animal claws.

First recorded: Medieval Spanish (c. 13th century)

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: unhaFrench: ongle

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'uña' (singular) used often?

Yes, 'uña' is used when you are specifically referring to one single nail (e.g., 'Me rompí una uña' - I broke one nail). However, when talking about the general act of grooming or the whole set, the plural 'uñas' is much more common.

How do I know if 'uñas' means fingernails or toenails?

Usually, the context tells you. If you are talking about painting them (*pintarse*), it almost always means fingernails. If you need to be precise, you can add 'de los pies' (of the feet) for toenails or 'de las manos' (of the hands) for fingernails, but this is often unnecessary.