How do you say elbow in Spanish?

The Spanish word for elbow is codo (KOH-doh), a masculine noun that uses the article el.

What does hablar por los codos mean?

Hablar por los codos literally translates to talk through the elbows and is a popular idiom meaning to talk excessively or be a chatterbox.

How do you say funny bone in Spanish?

The funny bone area is often called el hueso de la risa or simply referred to as hitting your codo on something, with the tingling sensation described as se me durmió el codo.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

How to Say Elbow in Spanish: Codo

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Codo · noun (masculine) · KOH-doh

Elbow in Spanish is codo, a masculine noun. It appears in several common idioms, including hablar por los codos (to talk too much) and codo a codo (side by side).

Codo is pronounced KOH-doh, two syllables with stress on the first.

Me golpeé el codo contra la esquina de la mesa.

I hit my elbow against the corner of the table.

How Native Speakers Use Codo

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Pain description

Me duele mucho el codo derecho después del tenis.

My right elbow hurts a lot after tennis.

Describing sports-related pain.

Common idiom

Tu hermana habla por los codos — nunca se calla.

Your sister talks nonstop — she never shuts up.

Hablar por los codos means to talk excessively.

Teamwork expression

Trabajaron codo a codo para terminar el proyecto.

They worked side by side to finish the project.

Codo a codo means elbow to elbow / shoulder to shoulder.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Codo

Using possessive instead of article

Incorrect: Me golpeé mi codo.

Correct: Me golpeé el codo.

Spanish uses the definite article (el) with body parts instead of possessive adjectives when the owner is clear from context.

Confusing codo with code

Incorrect: Dame el codo de acceso.

Correct: Dame el código de acceso.

Codo means elbow, while código means code — they look similar but are different words.

Lock in Elbow 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 Codo used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using codo in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Me golpeé el codo contra la esquina de la mesa. 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 Elbow in Spanish

How do you say elbow in Spanish?: The Spanish word for elbow is codo (KOH-doh), a masculine noun that uses the article el.
What does hablar por los codos mean?: Hablar por los codos literally translates to talk through the elbows and is a popular idiom meaning to talk excessively or be a chatterbox.
How do you say funny bone in Spanish?: The funny bone area is often called el hueso de la risa or simply referred to as hitting your codo on something, with the tingling sensation described as se me durmió el codo.