Inklingo

How to Say "skull" in Spanish

English → Spanish

cabeza

/ka-BEH-sa//kaˈβeθa/

nounA1General
Use 'cabeza' when referring to the head in a general sense, including when it's the location of pain or injury, or as a body part. It is not exclusively the bony structure.
A close-up view of a person's head and shoulders drawn in a simple, friendly storybook style.

Examples

Me golpeé la cabeza contra la pared.

I hit my head against the wall.

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.

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'.

cráneo

nounA2General/Medical
Use 'cráneo' specifically when referring to the bony framework that encloses and protects the brain, often in medical or anatomical contexts.

Examples

El impacto fracturó su cráneo.

The impact fractured his skull.

General Head vs. Specific Skull

Learners often use 'cráneo' when 'cabeza' would be more appropriate for general head-related statements. Remember that 'cabeza' is the default for 'head,' while 'cráneo' specifically denotes the braincase.

Related Translations

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