How to Say "gut" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “gut” is “tripa” — use 'tripa' when referring informally to your intestines or the general stomach area, often when experiencing discomfort or hunger.
tripa
TREE-pahˈtɾipa
Examples
Me duele la tripa por comer tantos dulces.
My belly hurts because I ate so many sweets.
Al bebé se le escucha el ruido de las tripas.
You can hear the baby's tummy rumbling.
Tengo que hacer ejercicio para bajar la tripa.
I need to exercise to get rid of my belly.
Using 'La' instead of 'My'
In Spanish, when talking about body parts, we usually use 'the' (la) instead of 'my' (mi). Instead of saying 'mi tripa', say 'la tripa' when the owner is already clear.
Always Feminine
Even if a man is talking about his belly, the word is always 'la tripa'. It doesn't change gender based on the person.
Tripa vs. Estómago
Mistake: “Using 'estómago' for everything.”
Correction: Use 'tripa' or 'barriga' for the external belly or general discomfort. 'Estómago' sounds more like a doctor's office term.
intestino
een-tes-TEE-nohintesˈtino
Examples
El intestino delgado es donde se absorben la mayoría de los nutrientes.
The small intestine is where most nutrients are absorbed.
Tienes que cuidar tu flora intestinal para tener un intestino sano.
You have to take care of your gut flora to have a healthy intestine.
El doctor me hizo una revisión del intestino grueso.
The doctor did an exam of my large intestine.
Always Masculine
Even though it ends in 'o' like many words, remember that it is always 'el intestino'. If you are talking about the whole system, you can use the plural 'los intestinos'.
Medical vs. Informal
While 'intestino' is the correct medical term, in casual conversation people often say 'tripas' or just 'estómago' even if they mean the intestines.
The 'Intestina' error
Mistake: “Me duele la intestina.”
Correction: Me duele el intestino.
intestinal
een-tes-tee-NALintes-tiˈnal
Examples
Tengo una pequeña infección intestinal.
I have a small intestinal infection.
El yogur es bueno para la flora intestinal.
Yogurt is good for the gut bacteria.
El médico examinó su tránsito intestinal.
The doctor examined his intestinal transit.
One size fits all
This word doesn't change for boys or girls. You say 'el problema intestinal' (masculine) and 'la infección intestinal' (feminine) using the exact same ending.
Word Order
In Spanish, this word almost always follows the person or thing it is describing. While in English we say 'intestinal infection,' in Spanish we say 'infection intestinal'.
Don't add an 'A'
Mistake: “La flora intestinala.”
Correction: La flora intestinal.
cuerdas
KWEHR-dahsˈkweɾðas
Examples
Las cuerdas de la guitarra están desafinadas.
The guitar strings are out of tune.
El violín tiene cuatro cuerdas.
The violin has four strings.
El cantante forzó demasiado sus cuerdas vocales.
The singer strained his vocal cords too much.
Musical Terminology
When referring to musical instruments, cuerdas is the standard term. You will often hear 'instrumentos de cuerda' (string instruments) to describe violins, guitars, etc.
Confusing 'Cuerdas' and 'Hilos'
Mistake: “Using *hilos* when referring to guitar strings.”
Correction: Use *cuerdas* for musical strings. *Hilos* are generally much thinner threads, like sewing thread.
Tripa vs. Intestino
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