How do you say 'knuckles' in Spanish?

The word is nudillos, and a single knuckle is nudillo — the term comes from nudo (knot), reflecting the knobby appearance of the joints.

How do you say 'to crack your knuckles' in Spanish?

The expression is tronarse los nudillos or crujir los nudillos, describing the popping sound made when bending the finger joints.

Are nudillos used in any Spanish expressions?

A common expression is dar con los nudillos, meaning to rap or knock with the knuckles, typically on a table or door to get someone's attention.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

Knuckles in Spanish: Nudillos

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

Nudillos · noun · noo-DEE-yohs

Nudillos is the Spanish word for knuckles, the bony joints of the fingers that become prominent when you make a fist.

noo-DEE-yohs

Se lastimó los nudillos golpeando la pared.

He hurt his knuckles hitting the wall.

How Native Speakers Use Nudillos

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

Injury description

Tengo los nudillos rojos de tanto escribir.

My knuckles are red from writing so much.

Describing hand fatigue.

Knocking

Tocó la puerta con los nudillos.

He knocked on the door with his knuckles.

A common everyday action.

Medical concern

Los nudillos se me hinchan cuando hace frío.

My knuckles swell up when it's cold.

Reporting a health symptom to a doctor.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Nudillos

Confusing nudillos with nudos

Incorrect: Me duelen los nudos de los dedos.

Correct: Me duelen los nudillos de los dedos.

Nudos means knots, while nudillos specifically refers to the knuckle joints of the fingers.

Using singular for all knuckles

Incorrect: Mi nudillo están hinchados.

Correct: Mis nudillos están hinchados.

Since people typically refer to multiple knuckles at once, use the plural nudillos with the plural possessive mis.

Lock in Knuckles 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 Nudillos used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using nudillos in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Se lastimó los nudillos golpeando la pared. 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 Knuckles in Spanish

How do you say 'knuckles' in Spanish?: The word is nudillos, and a single knuckle is nudillo — the term comes from nudo (knot), reflecting the knobby appearance of the joints.
How do you say 'to crack your knuckles' in Spanish?: The expression is tronarse los nudillos or crujir los nudillos, describing the popping sound made when bending the finger joints.
Are nudillos used in any Spanish expressions?: A common expression is dar con los nudillos, meaning to rap or knock with the knuckles, typically on a table or door to get someone's attention.