How to Say "mind" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “mind” is “mente” — use 'mente' when referring to your thoughts, consciousness, or the general concept of your intellect..
mente
/men-tay//ˈmen.te/
Examples
Tengo muchas cosas en la mente ahora mismo.
I have a lot of things on my mind right now.
Es importante mantener una mente abierta y flexible.
It's important to keep an open and flexible mind.
Su nombre no me viene a la mente en este momento.
His name doesn't come to mind at this moment.
Always Feminine: 'la mente'
'Mente' is a feminine noun, so it always uses 'la' or 'una'. For example, you would say 'una mente brillante' (a brilliant mind), not 'un mente brillante'.
Confusing 'Mente' (Mind) and 'Cerebro' (Brain)
Mistake: “Me duele la mente.”
Correction: Say 'Me duele la cabeza' (My head hurts). 'Mente' is the abstract concept of your thoughts and intellect, while 'cerebro' is the physical organ. You can't feel pain in your 'mente'.
cabeza
/ka-BEH-sa//kaˈβeθa/
Examples
Usa la cabeza y piensa en una solución.
Use your head and think of a solution.
No tengo cabeza para estudiar hoy, estoy muy cansado.
I don't have the mental energy (head) to study today, I'm very tired.
Mi abuelo todavía tiene una cabeza muy clara.
My grandfather still has a very clear mind.
ocúpate
/o-KOO-pah-teh//oˈkupate/
Examples
Ocúpate de la cena mientras yo limpio la sala.
Take care of dinner while I clean the living room.
No te preocupes por el perro, tú ocúpate de descansar.
Don't worry about the dog, you focus on resting.
Ocúpate de tus asuntos y déjame en paz.
Mind your own business and leave me alone.
The Accent Mark
When you stick the word 'te' onto the end of 'ocupa', the rhythm changes. We add an accent mark on the 'ú' to make sure the emphasis stays on the right syllable: o-KOO-pah-teh.
The Hidden 'Yourself'
The 'te' at the end is a reflexive part, meaning you are telling someone to occupy 'themselves' with a task.
Forgetting the Accent
Mistake: “ocupate”
Correction: ocúpate. Without the accent, the word would be pronounced differently (o-koo-PAH-teh), which is incorrect.
Using it Formally
Mistake: “Using 'ocúpate' with a boss.”
Correction: Use 'ocúpese' for formal situations (usted). 'Ocúpate' is strictly for friends and family (tú).
parecer
/pah-reh-SEHR//paɾeˈseɾ/
Examples
A mi parecer, es un error.
In my opinion, it is a mistake.
Ella cambió de parecer.
She changed her mind.
Fixed Phrases
As a noun, 'parecer' is almost always found in specific phrases like 'A mi parecer' or 'cambiar de parecer'.
razón
/rrah-SOHN//ra'son/
Examples
Los seres humanos tienen la capacidad de la razón.
Human beings have the capacity for reason.
Hay que usar la razón y no dejarse llevar por el pánico.
One must use reason and not be carried away by panic.
Con tanto sufrimiento, el pobre hombre perdió la razón.
With so much suffering, the poor man lost his mind.
sesos
/SAY-sohs//ˈsesos/
Examples
Me estoy devanando los sesos para resolver este problema.
I'm racking my brains to solve this problem.
Ese chico tiene muchos sesos; sacó la mejor nota.
That boy has a lot of brains; he got the best grade.
Abstract Use
When used to mean 'intelligence', it acts like the English word 'wits'—it describes your mental ability rather than a physical thing.
Mente vs. Cabeza
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