Inklingo

How to Say "bend" in Spanish

English → Spanish

curva

KOOR-vah/ˈkuɾ.βa/

nounA1general
Use 'curva' when referring to a turn or bend in a road, path, or river.
A winding, smooth S-shaped path made of dirt crossing a grassy field.

Examples

La carretera tiene una curva cerrada al final del pueblo.

The road has a sharp bend at the end of the town.

Tuvimos que reducir la velocidad por la curva peligrosa.

We had to slow down because of the dangerous curve.

Dibuja una curva suave que conecte los dos puntos.

Draw a smooth curve connecting the two points.

El río tiene muchas curvas antes de llegar al mar.

The river has many bends before reaching the sea.

Gender Check

Remember that 'curva' is a feminine noun, so you must use feminine articles and adjectives with it (la curva, una curva peligrosa).

codo

/KOH-doh//ˈkoðo/

nounA1general
Use 'codo' for a sharp turn in a road or river, but be aware it primarily means 'elbow' and is less common for geographical bends than 'curva'.
A close-up of a person's bent arm showing the elbow area.

Examples

El río hace un codo pronunciado antes de llegar al mar.

The river makes a pronounced bend before reaching the sea.

Me duele el codo después de jugar al tenis.

My elbow hurts after playing tennis.

Apoyó los codos en la mesa mientras comía.

He rested his elbows on the table while eating.

Using 'el' with body parts

In Spanish, we use 'the' (el/la) instead of 'my' or 'your' when talking about body parts. Say 'me duele el codo' (the elbow hurts me) rather than 'mi codo'.

Codo vs. Cubito

Mistake:Using 'cubito' for the joint.

Correction: Use 'codo' for the joint itself. 'Cúbito' is the technical name for one of the bones in the forearm.

Curva vs. Codo for Bends

Learners often confuse 'curva' and 'codo' when referring to bends in roads or rivers. While both can be used, 'curva' is the more standard and frequent term for geographical bends. 'Codo' is far more common for the body part 'elbow' and should be used cautiously for geographical turns.

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