Inklingo

How to Say "foot" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word forfootis pieuse 'pie' when referring to the part of the human body at the end of the leg or a unit of measurement..

English → Spanish

pie

/pyeh//'pje/

nounA1/B2general
Use 'pie' when referring to the part of the human body at the end of the leg or a unit of measurement.
A close-up illustration of a bare human foot standing firmly on green grass, showing the sole and toes.

Examples

Me duele el pie derecho.

My right foot hurts.

Los niños juegan descalzos, con los pies en la arena.

The children are playing barefoot, with their feet in the sand.

Prefiero ir a pie para disfrutar del paisaje.

I prefer to go on foot to enjoy the scenery.

El avión vuela a una altitud de 30.000 pies.

The airplane is flying at an altitude of 30,000 feet.

Always Masculine: 'el pie'

Even though 'pie' doesn't end in -o, it's a masculine word. Always say 'el pie' for one foot and 'los pies' for more than one.

'Pie' vs. 'Pierna'

Mistake:Me duele la pie.

Correction: The word for 'foot' is 'pie', and it's 'el pie'. More importantly, don't confuse it with 'pierna', which means 'leg'. 'Pie' is just the part your shoe covers; 'pierna' is the whole thing from your hip to your ankle.

pata

/pa-ta//ˈpata/

nounA1general
Use 'pata' for the leg or foot of an animal, including claws.
A close-up view of a sturdy, brown wooden table leg with a square foot, standing firmly on a light-colored floor.

Examples

El gato estiró la pata y empezó a ronronear.

The cat stretched its paw and started to purr.

Necesitamos arreglar la pata rota de la mesa antes de cenar.

We need to fix the broken leg of the table before dinner.

Gender Rule

Even though 'pata' refers to a limb, it always uses feminine articles (la pata, una pata).

Confusing with 'Pierna'

Mistake:Using 'pata' for a human leg.

Correction: Use 'pierna' for human legs. 'Pata' is only for animals and furniture.

Confusing Human vs. Animal Feet

The most common mistake is using 'pie' for animals. Remember that 'pata' is specifically for the limbs of animals, while 'pie' is for humans and the unit of measurement.

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