Inklingo

How to Say "back" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “back” is “atrás” — use 'atrás' when referring to a direction or a place that is behind you, or when indicating a past time.

atrásA1

Use 'atrás' when referring to a direction or a place that is behind you, or when indicating a past time.

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espalda🔊A1

Use 'espalda' specifically for the back of the human body, between the shoulders and the waist.

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fondo🔊A2

Use 'fondo' to refer to the furthest part or the bottom of a space, like a room, a stage, or a container.

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trasero🔊B1

Use 'trasero' as an adjective to describe something located at the rear or back, often referring to vehicles or seating.

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posterior🔊B1

Use 'posterior' to describe the back part or rear of something, like a building or an object, often in a more formal context.

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lomo🔊A2

Use 'lomo' for the upper part of an animal's body, running from the neck to the tail.

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respaldo🔊A2

Use 'respaldo' to refer to the backrest of a chair or seat, providing support.

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revésA2

Use 'revés' to refer to the 'wrong' or inner side of a piece of fabric, a picture, or a document.

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regresado🔊B1

Use 'regresado' to describe something that has been returned or sent back, such as a package or a product.

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dorsal🔊B1

Use 'dorsal' in an anatomical context to refer to the back side of the body, particularly for marine animals or specific body parts.

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English → Spanish

atrás

adverbA1general
Use 'atrás' when referring to a direction or a place that is behind you, or when indicating a past time.

Examples

El gato está jugando atrás del sofá.

The cat is playing behind the sofa.

espalda

es-PAL-daesˈpalda

nounA1general
Use 'espalda' specifically for the back of the human body, between the shoulders and the waist.
A simple illustration showing the bare back of a human figure, focusing on the area from the shoulders down to the waist.

Examples

Me duele la espalda.

My back hurts.

Me duele mucho la espalda después de correr.

My back hurts a lot after running.

Por favor, siéntate con la espalda recta.

Please, sit with your back straight.

Lleva una mochila muy pesada en la espalda.

He's carrying a very heavy backpack on his back.

Always Feminine: 'la espalda'

This word is always feminine, so you'll always use 'la' or 'una' with it. Just memorize them as a pair: 'la espalda'.

'Espalda' vs. 'Atrás'

Mistake: “Me duele el atrás.”

Correction: Me duele la espalda.

fondo

fon-dohˈfondo

nounA2general
Use 'fondo' to refer to the furthest part or the bottom of a space, like a room, a stage, or a container.
A transparent glass jar shown in cross-section with a single pebble resting on the very bottom.

Examples

Las sillas están al fondo de la sala.

The chairs are at the back of the room.

Las llaves están en el fondo de mi mochila.

The keys are at the bottom of my backpack.

El baño está al fondo del pasillo.

The bathroom is at the end of the hall.

Vimos peces de colores en el fondo del mar.

We saw colorful fish on the bottom of the sea.

'Fondo' vs. 'Hondo'

Mistake: “El mar es muy fondo.”

Correction: El mar es muy hondo. 'Fondo' is a noun (a thing: the bottom), while 'hondo' is an adjective (a description: deep).

trasero

tra-SE-rotɾaˈseɾo

adjectiveB1general
Use 'trasero' as an adjective to describe something located at the rear or back, often referring to vehicles or seating.
A bright red car is shown parked, viewed directly from the back, highlighting the rear bumper and taillights.

Examples

Mi coche tiene asientos traseros cómodos.

My car has comfortable rear seats.

El asiento trasero del coche es muy cómodo.

The rear seat of the car is very comfortable.

Prefiero entrar por la puerta trasera para no hacer ruido.

I prefer to enter through the back door so I don't make noise.

El patio trasero es perfecto para las barbacoas de verano.

The backyard is perfect for summer barbecues.

Matching the Noun

Like most Spanish adjectives, 'trasero' changes to match the thing it describes. Use 'trasero' for masculine things (el asiento trasero) and 'trasera' for feminine things (la puerta trasera).

posterior

poh-steh-RYOHRpos.teˈɾjoɾ

adjectiveB1formal
Use 'posterior' to describe the back part or rear of something, like a building or an object, often in a more formal context.
A colorful storybook illustration showing the back view of a person wearing a green backpack.

Examples

La salida posterior del museo está cerrada.

The rear exit of the museum is closed.

La puerta posterior del edificio está abierta.

The back door of the building is open.

En una fecha posterior decidiremos los detalles.

At a later date we will decide the details.

El éxito fue posterior a mucho esfuerzo.

Success came after a lot of effort.

One Form for All

This word is great because it doesn't change its ending for masculine or feminine. You can say 'el lado posterior' or 'la parte posterior' without changing the word!

Don't add an 'a'

Mistake: “la parte posteriora”

Correction: la parte posterior

lomo

LO-moˈlomo

nounA2general
Use 'lomo' for the upper part of an animal's body, running from the neck to the tail.
The strong, arched back of a brown horse standing in a field.

Examples

El caballo tiene un lomo fuerte.

The horse has a strong back.

El gato arqueó el lomo cuando vio al perro.

The cat arched its back when it saw the dog.

El título del libro aparece en el lomo.

The book's title appears on the spine.

Cargaron las cajas a lomo de mula.

They loaded the boxes on the mule's back.

Using 'A lomo'

When you want to say something is carried on an animal, use the phrase 'a lomo de'.

Book parts

Mistake: “La espalda del libro.”

Correction: El lomo del libro.

respaldo

rehs-PAHL-dohresˈpaldo

nounA2general
Use 'respaldo' to refer to the backrest of a chair or seat, providing support.
A close-up of a wooden chair focusing on its sturdy vertical backrest.

Examples

Por favor, apoya tu espalda en el respaldo.

Please rest your back on the backrest.

El respaldo de esta silla de oficina es ajustable.

The backrest of this office chair is adjustable.

Me duele la espalda porque el respaldo del sofá es muy duro.

My back hurts because the back of the sofa is very hard.

Masculine Ending

This word ends in -o, making it a masculine noun. Always use 'el' or 'un' with it.

revés

nounA2general
Use 'revés' to refer to the 'wrong' or inner side of a piece of fabric, a picture, or a document.

Examples

El diseño solo está en el anverso, no en el revés.

The design is only on the front, not on the back.

regresado

reh-greh-SAH-dohre.ɣɾeˈsa.ðo

adjectiveB1general
Use 'regresado' to describe something that has been returned or sent back, such as a package or a product.
A brightly colored book is perfectly situated back on a wooden bookshelf, nestled among other books, showing it has been returned to its proper place.

Examples

El paquete regresado se encuentra en la oficina.

The returned package is at the office.

El paquete regresado fue puesto en la oficina de correos.

The returned package was placed in the post office.

La delegación regresada tenía muchas historias que contar.

The returned delegation (f.) had many stories to tell.

Los soldados regresados recibieron un gran aplauso.

The returned soldiers received a big round of applause.

Agreement is Key

When 'regresado' acts as an adjective, its ending must match the noun it describes. If the noun is feminine (la delegación), use 'regresada'.

atrás

adverbA2general
Use 'atrás' when referring to a past time, equivalent to 'ago' or 'back when'.

Examples

Nos conocimos hace mucho atrás.

We met a long time ago.

dorsal

dor-SAHLdoɾˈsal

adjectiveB1scientific
Use 'dorsal' in an anatomical context to refer to the back side of the body, particularly for marine animals or specific body parts.
A side view of a blue dolphin jumping out of the water, highlighting the fin on its back.

Examples

La ballena tiene una aleta dorsal.

The whale has a dorsal fin.

El tiburón tiene una aleta dorsal muy grande.

The shark has a very large dorsal fin.

Siento un dolor en la zona dorsal de la espalda.

I feel a pain in the dorsal area of my back.

La columna dorsal es fundamental para la postura.

The mid-back spine is essential for posture.

One form for all genders

This word doesn't change its ending. It is 'el área dorsal' (feminine noun) and 'el músculo dorsal' (masculine noun).

Avoid saying 'dorsalo'

Mistake: “el músculo dorsalo”

Correction: el músculo dorsal

Confusing 'atrás' and 'espalda'

Learners often confuse 'atrás' (meaning behind or backward in direction/time) with 'espalda' (the body part). Remember: 'espalda' is ONLY for the human body's back. For any other direction or location behind something, use 'atrás'.

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