Inklingo

How to Say "neck" in Spanish

English → Spanish

cuello

KWEH-yohˈkweʝo

nounA1general
Use 'cuello' for the body part connecting the head to the torso, or for the collar of a shirt or jacket.
A simple storybook illustration showing the profile of a human body, focusing clearly on the neck connecting the head to the shoulders and torso.

Examples

Me duele el cuello por dormir en una mala posición.

My neck hurts from sleeping in a bad position.

Ella lleva un collar elegante en su cuello.

She is wearing an elegant necklace on her neck.

Por favor, estira el cuello antes de empezar el ejercicio.

Please, stretch your neck before starting the exercise.

Tienes una mancha en el cuello de la camisa.

You have a stain on the collar of your shirt.

Using 'el' instead of 'mi'

When talking about your own body parts, Spanish often uses the article 'el' or 'la' instead of 'mi'. For example, you say 'Me duele el cuello' (The neck hurts me), not 'Me duele mi cuello'.

Common descriptive patterns

You can describe the style of a collar by placing the adjective after 'cuello': 'cuello alto' (high neck) or specifying the type using 'de': 'cuello de tortuga' (turtleneck).

Confusing 'cuello' and 'garganta'

Mistake: “Using 'cuello' when you mean the throat.”

Correction: 'Cuello' is the outside part. If you mean the inside passage used for eating/breathing, use 'garganta' (throat).

cuello

KWEH-yohˈkweʝo

nounA2general
Use 'cuello' for the narrow part of a bottle or the neck of a musical instrument like a guitar.
A simple storybook illustration showing the profile of a human body, focusing clearly on the neck connecting the head to the shoulders and torso.

Examples

Tienes una mancha en el cuello de la camisa.

You have a stain on the collar of your shirt.

Me duele el cuello por dormir en una mala posición.

My neck hurts from sleeping in a bad position.

Ella lleva un collar elegante en su cuello.

She is wearing an elegant necklace on her neck.

Por favor, estira el cuello antes de empezar el ejercicio.

Please, stretch your neck before starting the exercise.

Using 'el' instead of 'mi'

When talking about your own body parts, Spanish often uses the article 'el' or 'la' instead of 'mi'. For example, you say 'Me duele el cuello' (The neck hurts me), not 'Me duele mi cuello'.

Common descriptive patterns

You can describe the style of a collar by placing the adjective after 'cuello': 'cuello alto' (high neck) or specifying the type using 'de': 'cuello de tortuga' (turtleneck).

Confusing 'cuello' and 'garganta'

Mistake: “Using 'cuello' when you mean the throat.”

Correction: 'Cuello' is the outside part. If you mean the inside passage used for eating/breathing, use 'garganta' (throat).

garganta

gar-GAN-tahɡaɾˈɣanta

nounB2general
Use 'garganta' to describe the narrow opening or passage of a bottle or vessel, or metaphorically for a narrow gorge.
A landscape illustration depicting a deep, narrow gorge with steep rocky walls on both sides and a small river flowing through the base.

Examples

Tuvimos que cruzar una garganta muy estrecha para llegar al valle.

We had to cross a very narrow gorge to reach the valley.

La garganta de la botella es demasiado pequeña para el cepillo.

The neck of the bottle is too small for the brush.

pellejo

peh-YEH-hopeˈʎexo

nounB2idiomatic
Use 'pellejo' in idiomatic expressions like 'jugarse el pellejo' to mean risking one's life or neck.
A small cat carefully walking across a narrow wooden fence to reach safety.

Examples

El bombero se jugó el pellejo para salvar al gato.

The firefighter risked his life to save the cat.

Por fin logramos salvar el pellejo.

We finally managed to save our necks.

No me gustaría estar en su pellejo ahora mismo.

I wouldn't want to be in his shoes right now.

Idiomatic usage

In these phrases, 'pellejo' acts as a stand-in for your whole body or existence.

Confusing 'cuello' with 'garganta'

Learners often confuse 'cuello' and 'garganta' when referring to bottles. Remember, 'cuello' is the standard term for a bottle's neck, while 'garganta' refers more to a narrow opening or passage, often used for gorges or very tight spaces, not typically for standard bottles.

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