Inklingo

How to Say "vein" in Spanish

English → Spanish

vena

/BEH-nah//ˈbe.na/

nounA2general
Use 'vena' when referring to the blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart in humans or animals.
A close-up illustration of blue and red blood vessels visible under the skin of a human arm.

Examples

Me duele la vena del brazo.

The vein in my arm hurts.

Las venas llevan la sangre de vuelta al corazón.

Veins carry blood back to the heart.

Se le marcaba una vena en la frente por el enfado.

A vein was bulging on his forehead because of his anger.

La medicina se administra directamente en la vena.

The medicine is administered directly into the vein.

Always Feminine

The word 'vena' is always feminine. Use 'la' and 'una' even if the blood inside belongs to a man.

Vena vs. Arteria

Mistake: “Using 'vena' for all blood tubes.”

Correction: Just like in English, use 'vena' for those carrying blood TO the heart and 'arteria' for those carrying it AWAY.

nervio

/NER-byoh//ˈner.βjo/

nounA2general
Use 'nervio' to describe the structural lines in a leaf or an insect's wing, or importantly, the nerve within a tooth.
A detailed close-up illustration of a single yellow nerve fiber branching out against a clean background.

Examples

El dentista tuvo que tratar el nervio de mi muela.

The dentist had to treat the nerve of my molar.

El dentista dice que el nervio del diente está inflamado.

The dentist says the tooth nerve is inflamed.

El nervio óptico conecta el ojo con el cerebro.

The optic nerve connects the eye to the brain.

Puedes ver los nervios de la hoja si la pones a contraluz.

You can see the veins of the leaf if you hold it against the light.

Always Masculine

Even though it ends in 'o', remember it always uses masculine markers like 'el' or 'un'.

Nerve vs. Bravery

Mistake: “Él tiene mucho nervio.”

Correction: Él tiene mucho valor / Ella tiene mucha cara.

mina

MEE-nah/ˈmina/

nounB1general
Use 'mina' exclusively when referring to a mine, such as a coal mine or a gold mine, from which minerals are extracted.
A storybook illustration showing the dark entrance to a mine shaft carved into a mountain.

Examples

La mina de oro se agotó rápidamente.

The gold mine was quickly depleted.

La mina de carbón cerró el año pasado por falta de recursos.

The coal mine closed last year due to lack of resources.

Dicen que el pueblo se fundó cerca de una antigua mina de plata.

They say the town was founded near an old silver mine.

Gender Check

Remember that 'mina' is always feminine, even though it ends in 'a' like many masculine words (e.g., 'día'). You must use 'la' or 'una' before it.

Confusing 'Vena' with 'Nervio'

Learners often confuse 'vena' (blood vessel) with 'nervio' (nerve, or structural line in leaves/wings). Remember that 'vena' is for the body's circulatory system, while 'nervio' has distinct uses unrelated to blood flow.

Related Translations

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