Spanish vocabulary · Intermediate
How to Say Crutches in Spanish: Muletas
Muletas · noun (feminine) · moo-LEH-tahs
Crutches in Spanish is muletas, a feminine plural noun referring to the mobility aids used when someone has a leg or foot injury.
Muletas is pronounced moo-LEH-tahs, with stress on the second syllable.
Necesitó muletas durante seis semanas después de la operación.
He needed crutches for six weeks after the surgery.
Crutches in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for crutches, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| muletas | crutches | moo-LEH-tahs | Default, widely understood |
| bastones | crutches | sometimes used for walking sticks/canes |
How Native Speakers Use Muletas
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
After an injury
El médico me dijo que usara muletas por dos semanas.
The doctor told me to use crutches for two weeks.
Medical advice after injury.
Difficulty walking
Caminar con muletas por las escaleras es muy difícil.
Walking with crutches on stairs is very difficult.
Expressing frustration with mobility.
Recovery progress
Por fin dejé las muletas y ahora camino sin ayuda.
I finally ditched the crutches and now I walk without help.
Celebrating recovery progress.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Muletas
Using singular when plural needed
Incorrect: Camino con muleta.
Correct: Camino con muletas.
Crutches typically come in pairs, so muletas (plural) is the standard form.
Confusing with bullfighting term
Incorrect: El torero usó sus muletas para caminar.
Correct: El torero usó su muleta para torear.
In bullfighting, muleta (singular) refers to the red cape — context determines the meaning.
Lock in Crutches Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Muletas used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using muletas in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Necesitó muletas durante seis semanas después de la operación. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Crutches in Spanish
- How do you say crutches in Spanish?
- The Spanish word for crutches is muletas (moo-LEH-tahs), a feminine plural noun used universally across Spanish-speaking countries.
- What is the singular form of muletas?
- The singular form is muleta, though crutches are almost always referred to in plural since they come in pairs for walking support.
- Does muleta have another meaning in Spanish?
- In bullfighting terminology, la muleta refers to the small red cape used by the matador during the final stage of the fight, which is completely unrelated to the medical device.