Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Hips in Spanish: Caderas
Caderas · noun (feminine plural) · kah-DEH-rahs
The Spanish word for hips is 'caderas,' the plural of the feminine noun 'cadera.' This term covers both the anatomical hip joint and the outer hip area. It appears frequently in medical contexts, dance instructions, and everyday body-part vocabulary.
Pronounce it kah-DEH-rahs, with three syllables and the stress on the second. The singular 'cadera' is kah-DEH-rah.
El médico recomendó ejercicios para fortalecer las caderas.
The doctor recommended exercises to strengthen the hips.
Hips in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for hips, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| caderas | hips | kah-DEH-rahs | Default, widely understood |
| cadera | hips | singular form referring to one hip |
How Native Speakers Use Caderas
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Medical context
Me duele la cadera derecha cuando subo escaleras.
My right hip hurts when I go upstairs.
Describing pain to a doctor.
Dance instruction
Mueve las caderas al ritmo de la música.
Move your hips to the rhythm of the music.
A salsa instructor giving directions.
Fitness routine
Los estiramientos de caderas son esenciales antes de correr.
Hip stretches are essential before running.
Warming up for a workout.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Caderas
Confusing cadera with cintura
Incorrect: Me duelen las cinturas después de bailar.
Correct: Me duelen las caderas después de bailar.
'Cintura' refers to the waist, the narrower part above the hips, not the hip joint itself.
Wrong gender article
Incorrect: El cadera está inflamado.
Correct: La cadera está inflamada.
'Cadera' is feminine, requiring the article 'la' and feminine adjective endings.
Lock in Hips 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 Caderas used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using caderas in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El médico recomendó ejercicios para fortalecer las caderas. 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 Hips in Spanish
- What is the difference between 'cadera' and 'cintura'?
- The 'cadera' refers to the hip bone and surrounding area below the waist, while 'cintura' is the waist, which is the narrower midsection between the ribs and the hips.
- How do I say 'hip replacement' in Spanish?
- A hip replacement is called 'reemplazo de cadera' or 'prótesis de cadera,' with the latter being more common in medical terminology across Spanish-speaking countries.
- Is 'caderas' used in dance vocabulary?
- Latin dance styles like salsa, merengue, and cumbia all emphasize hip movement, making 'mueve las caderas' (move your hips) one of the most recognizable phrases in dance instruction.