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“Shoulders” in Spanish is “hombros” (HOHM-bros), and the singular is “hombro.”
You don’t need a long lesson to say this one correctly. You need the right word, the right form (one or two), and a clean pronunciation you can repeat without guessing.
This page gives you that, plus ready-to-use lines you can drop into class, travel, sports, or a doctor’s visit. No fluff. Just the pieces that make you sound natural.
How to Say Shoulders in Spanish In Real Conversations
The Spanish word for shoulders (plural) is hombros. One shoulder (singular) is hombro.
Both forms are masculine. That means you’ll often see el hombro (the shoulder) and los hombros (the shoulders). If you want to say “my shoulders,” it becomes mis hombros.
Spanish uses plurals a lot in everyday speech when both sides are involved. If you’re talking about posture, stiffness, a backpack strap, or a shrug, plural comes up fast.
Pronunciation That Stays Steady
Hombro sounds like OHM-broh. The h is silent. The m is clear, then you roll straight into bro.
Hombros is OHM-bros. That final -s is light but audible.
- Silent H: Don’t say “home-bro.” Start right on the ohm sound.
- Short vowels: Spanish vowels stay tight. No stretched “ohhh.”
- Clean “br”: Keep it one unit, not “buh-ruh.”
Common Mix-Ups And Fixes
Mix-up: Saying “hombros” when you mean one shoulder. Fix: If you can point to one side, use hombro.
Mix-up: Dropping the article when you need it. Fix: In Spanish, body parts often pair with an article: Me duele el hombro (My shoulder hurts).
Mix-up: Overusing “mi” for body parts. Fix: Spanish leans on el/la/los/las with a pronoun: Me duelen los hombros.
Shoulder In Spanish: Singular, Plural, And Articles
Here are the forms you’ll reach for most:
- el hombro = the shoulder
- los hombros = the shoulders
- un hombro = a shoulder
- mis hombros = my shoulders
Body Parts And The “Me Duele” Pattern
Spanish often expresses pain with an indirect object pronoun plus a body-part article. It can feel backward at first, then it clicks.
- Me duele el hombro. = My shoulder hurts.
- Me duelen los hombros. = My shoulders hurt.
Notice the verb change: duele for one thing, duelen for more than one. That agreement matters.
Useful Phrases With “Hombro(s)”
Memorizing the noun helps, but phrases are where you start sounding fluent. These are common and practical.
Posture, Movement, And Everyday Life
- Relaja los hombros. = Relax your shoulders.
- Sube los hombros. = Raise your shoulders.
- Baja los hombros. = Drop your shoulders.
- Tengo los hombros tensos. = My shoulders are tense.
- Me encogí de hombros. = I shrugged.
Bags, Straps, And Carrying Things
- Me pesa en el hombro. = It feels heavy on my shoulder.
- La correa me roza el hombro. = The strap rubs my shoulder.
- Llevo la mochila en ambos hombros. = I wear the backpack on both shoulders.
Sports And Training
- Calienta los hombros. = Warm up your shoulders.
- Me lastimé el hombro. = I injured my shoulder.
- No puedo levantar el brazo por el hombro. = I can’t lift my arm because of my shoulder.
| Spanish Form | English Meaning | When You’d Say It |
|---|---|---|
| el hombro | the shoulder | Pointing to one shoulder or naming one side |
| los hombros | the shoulders | Talking about posture, tension, or both sides |
| Me duele el hombro. | My shoulder hurts. | Pain in one shoulder |
| Me duelen los hombros. | My shoulders hurt. | Pain across both shoulders |
| Relaja los hombros. | Relax your shoulders. | Coaching posture, stretching, calming tension |
| Me encogí de hombros. | I shrugged. | Describing a shrug in a story |
| Me lastimé el hombro. | I hurt my shoulder. | Explaining an injury |
| en ambos hombros | on both shoulders | Backpacks, straps, balanced carrying |
Related Body Parts That Pair With Shoulders
Once you’ve got hombro, you’ll often mention nearby parts in the same sentence. These show up in injuries, workouts, posture cues, and daily descriptions.
Quick Vocabulary Set
- el cuello = neck
- la espalda = back
- el brazo = arm
- el codo = elbow
- la muñeca = wrist
Phrases That Connect Them
- Me duele el cuello y el hombro. = My neck and shoulder hurt.
- Tengo tensión en los hombros y la espalda. = I have tension in my shoulders and back.
- Me duele del hombro al codo. = It hurts from the shoulder to the elbow.
Grammar Notes That Make You Sound Natural
You can memorize words all day and still sound off if agreement slips. Shoulder vocabulary is friendly once you lock in three habits.
Gender And Articles
Hombro is masculine, so it pairs with el and los. Adjectives also match:
- el hombro derecho = the right shoulder
- el hombro izquierdo = the left shoulder
- los hombros doloridos = sore shoulders
One Shoulder Vs Both Shoulders
Spanish often chooses plural when both sides are involved, even if English stays singular in casual speech. If you mean both, plural keeps the meaning clear.
Try this contrast:
- Me duele el hombro. = One shoulder hurts.
- Me duelen los hombros. = Both shoulders hurt.
Possessives: When To Use “Mi/Mis”
You can say mi hombro or mis hombros. It’s correct. Spanish still favors the article pattern for pain and many body-part statements.
- Mi hombro está adolorido. = My shoulder is sore.
- Me duele el hombro. = My shoulder hurts.
| Adjective | Spanish Example | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| derecho / derecha | Me duele el hombro derecho. | My right shoulder hurts. |
| izquierdo / izquierda | Me lastimé el hombro izquierdo. | I injured my left shoulder. |
| tenso / tensa | Tengo los hombros tensos. | My shoulders are tense. |
| adolorido / adolorida | Tengo el hombro adolorido. | My shoulder is sore. |
| rigido / rigida | Estoy con los hombros rigidos. | My shoulders feel stiff. |
| inflamado / inflamada | Tengo el hombro inflamado. | I have a swollen shoulder. |
| cansado / cansada | Tengo los hombros cansados. | My shoulders feel tired. |
| lesionado / lesionada | Tengo el hombro lesionado. | I have an injured shoulder. |
Country-To-Country Usage Notes
Hombro and hombros work across Spanish-speaking places. You won’t confuse anyone with these.
You might hear different choices for related words near the shoulder area, like “neck” phrasing or gym slang, but the shoulder term stays stable. If you stick with hombro(s), you’re safe.
Practice Drills That Stick In Your Head
Here’s a short routine you can run in two minutes. It trains pronunciation, grammar, and recall without flashcards.
Drill 1: Say The Core Pair Ten Times
- hombro (OHM-broh)
- hombros (OHM-bros)
Keep the h silent every time. If you catch yourself adding a sound, reset and start again.
Drill 2: Swap One Word, Keep The Sentence
- Me duele el hombro.
- Me duelen los hombros.
Say them back-to-back. Pay attention to duele vs duelen. That switch is a common snag for learners.
Drill 3: Add Left And Right
- Me duele el hombro izquierdo.
- Me duele el hombro derecho.
If you can say these smoothly, you can handle most real-life shoulder talk.
Quick Self-Check Before You Say It Out Loud
Run this short checklist. It catches the usual mistakes fast.
- Silent H: No “h” sound at the start.
- One vs two:hombro for one, hombros for both.
- Agreement:duele with one, duelen with plural.
- Article pattern: Pain lines often use el/los.
Extra Lines You’ll Use In Class Or Travel
If you want a few clean “plug-and-play” sentences, start here. They’re simple, common, and easy to adapt.
- Me duele el hombro cuando levanto el brazo. = My shoulder hurts when I raise my arm.
- Me duelen los hombros por la mochila. = My shoulders hurt because of the backpack.
- No puedo mover bien el hombro. = I can’t move my shoulder well.
- Necesito bajar los hombros y respirar. = I need to drop my shoulders and breathe.
That’s it. Learn hombro and hombros, keep the h silent, and use the pain pattern when it fits. After a few repetitions, “shoulders” won’t slow you down again.