How to Say "head" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “head” is “cabeza” — use 'cabeza' for the physical part of the body, or as a general term for the leader of a group or organization..
cabeza
/ka-BEH-sa//kaˈβeθa/
Examples
Me duele la cabeza.
My head hurts.
El bebé tiene una cabeza pequeña.
The baby has a small head.
Ponte el casco para protegerte la cabeza.
Put on the helmet to protect your head.
Mi madre es la cabeza de la familia.
My mother is the head of the family.
Talking About Your Own Body
In Spanish, you usually use words like 'el', 'la', 'los', or 'las' (called definite articles) with body parts, not words like 'mi' (my) or 'tu' (your). So, you say 'Me duele la cabeza' (The head hurts me) instead of 'Me duele mi cabeza'.
Using 'Mi' Instead of 'La'
Mistake: “Me lavo mi pelo y mi cabeza.”
Correction: Me lavo el pelo y la cabeza. (I wash my hair and my head.) In Spanish, when it's clear whose body part you're talking about, you use 'el' or 'la' instead of 'mi' or 'tu'.
director
/dee-rek-TOR//di.ɾekˈtoɾ/
Examples
El director de la escuela dio un discurso.
The school principal gave a speech.
Hablé con la directora de Recursos Humanos.
I spoke with the Human Resources director.
Nuestro director general es muy joven.
Our CEO is very young.
Making it Feminine
This word changes for a woman. For a female director, you say 'la directora'. Remember to change 'el' to 'la' too!
`Director` vs. `Gerente`
Mistake: “Using `director` for a store manager.”
Correction: For a store, restaurant, or bank branch manager, it's more common to say 'el gerente'. 'Director' is usually for someone higher up, like the head of a whole company or a large department.
líder
Examples
El presidente es el líder del país.
The president is the leader of the country.
ve
/beh//be/
Examples
Ve a la tienda y compra leche.
Go to the store and buy milk.
Si no te sientes bien, ve al doctor.
If you don't feel well, go to the doctor.
Ve con cuidado, el piso está mojado.
Go carefully, the floor is wet.
The 'Tú' Command Form
This 've' is the special command form of 'ir' (to go) that you use with 'tú' (you, informal). Think of it as a quick, direct way to tell a friend to go somewhere.
Formal vs. Informal Commands
To tell a friend to go, you say '¡Ve!'. To tell someone you don't know well or want to show respect to, you use a different form: '¡Vaya!'.
Confusing 've' with 'ves'
Mistake: “¡Ves a la escuela!”
Correction: ¡Ve a la escuela! — To give a command to 'go', you need 've'. The word 'ves' means 'you see' and comes from a different verb.
cráneo
Examples
Tienes que usar el cráneo para resolver este problema.
You have to use your head (or brains) to solve this problem.
decano
/deh-KAH-noh//deˈkano/
Examples
El decano de la facultad de leyes entregó los diplomas.
The dean of the law school handed out the diplomas.
Necesitas la firma del decano para cambiar de curso.
You need the dean's signature to change courses.
People and Gender
This word describes a man. If you are talking about a woman in this position, you use 'decana'.
School vs. University
Mistake: “Using 'decano' for a high school principal.”
Correction: Use 'director' for schools. 'Decano' is specifically for university departments or professional associations.
olla
/OY-yah//ˈoʝa/
Examples
¡Se te ha ido la olla por completo!
You have completely lost your mind!
No me comas la olla con tus problemas.
Don't get in my head with your problems.
Slang Usage
When used this way, 'olla' is always figurative. It treats the head like a container that holds your sanity.
Formal Contexts
Mistake: “Using 'se me fue la olla' in a job interview.”
Correction: This is very informal. Use 'me distraje' (I got distracted) or 'perdí el hilo' (I lost my thread) instead.
coco
/KOH-koh//ˈkoko/
Examples
Quiero beber agua de coco, está muy refrescante.
I want to drink coconut water, it is very refreshing.
¡Ten cuidado! Te vas a dar un golpe en el coco.
Be careful! You're going to hit your head.
Mi abuelo tiene un coco increíble para las matemáticas.
My grandfather has an incredible brain/knack for math.
Masculine Noun Rule
Even though 'coco' ends in -o, which usually signals a masculine noun, remember that it is always used with the masculine article: 'el coco' (the coconut/head).
Confusing 'Head' Meanings
Mistake: “Using 'coco' in formal situations when you mean 'cabeza'.”
Correction: Use 'coco' only in informal talk when referring to the head or intellect. 'Cabeza' is the standard, neutral word for the body part.
Confusing 'Cabeza' with Abstract Meanings
Related Translations
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