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How to Say "ears" in Spanish

English → Spanish

orejas

oh-REH-has/oˈɾexas/

nounA1general
Use 'orejas' when referring to the visible, outer parts of the ear, often used when describing animals or the physical shape of the ear.
A simple drawing of a child's head in profile, clearly showing one external ear.

Examples

Las orejas de mi perro son muy grandes y puntiagudas.

My dog's ears are very large and pointed.

Me puse pendientes nuevos en las orejas.

I put new earrings in my ears.

Ella tiene las orejas rojas de tanto frío.

Her ears are red from the cold.

Gender and Number

Since 'orejas' is the plural of 'oreja' (ear), it is always a feminine noun and requires feminine plural articles (las) and adjectives (rojas, grandes).

Oreja vs. Oído

Mistake: “Using 'orejas' when referring to the sense of hearing or the inner ear.”

Correction: Use 'oído' (inner ear/sense of hearing) for things like earaches or listening ability, and 'orejas' only for the visible, external part.

oídos

nounA1general
Use 'oídos' when referring to the internal organs of hearing or the sense of hearing itself, especially when discussing sound, listening, or ear discomfort related to hearing.

Examples

Me duelen mucho los oídos cuando el avión despega.

My ears hurt a lot when the plane takes off.

Confusing Outer Ear vs. Hearing Organ

The most common mistake is using 'orejas' when talking about the act of hearing or discomfort related to sound. Remember, 'oídos' specifically refers to the sense of hearing and the internal organs responsible for it.

Related Translations

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