Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Leg in Spanish: Pierna vs. Pata and When to Use Each
Pierna · noun · PYEHR-nah
Leg in Spanish is pierna when referring to a human leg, and pata for an animal's leg or a furniture leg. Mixing them up can sound humorous or rude, so the distinction matters.
Two syllables: PYEHR-nah. The ie is a diphthong that glides from ee to eh quickly, and stress falls on the first syllable.
Me duele la pierna derecha.
My right leg hurts.
Leg in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for leg, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| pierna | leg | PYEHR-nah | Default, widely understood |
| pata | leg | animal leg or furniture leg |
How Native Speakers Use Pierna
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Describing body pain
Se rompió la pierna jugando al fútbol.
He broke his leg playing soccer.
Pierna is always used for human legs in medical and everyday contexts.
Referring to an animal's leg
El perro levantó la pata para rascarse la oreja.
The dog raised its leg to scratch its ear.
Pata is the correct word for any animal's leg. Using pierna for animals sounds unnatural.
Furniture leg
La mesa se tambalea porque tiene una pata rota.
The table wobbles because it has a broken leg.
Furniture legs are always patas, never piernas. This mirrors the animal-leg usage.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Pierna
Using pierna for an animal
Incorrect: El caballo tiene una pierna lastimada.
Correct: El caballo tiene una pata lastimada.
Pierna is reserved for humans. Calling an animal's leg pierna sounds strange and can come across as anthropomorphizing the animal in an unintended way.
Calling a person's leg pata
Incorrect: Me duele la pata. (meaning your own leg)
Correct: Me duele la pierna.
Pata for a human leg is slang at best and can sound vulgar or self-deprecating. In standard Spanish, always use pierna for people.
Lock in Leg 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 Pierna used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using pierna in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Me duele la pierna derecha. 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 Leg in Spanish
- How do you say leg in Spanish?
- For a human leg, say pierna (PYEHR-nah). For an animal's leg or a furniture leg, say pata (PAH-tah). The distinction does not exist in English but is important in Spanish.
- What is the plural of pierna?
- The plural is piernas: 'Me duelen las piernas' means 'my legs hurt.' Similarly, the plural of pata is patas.
- How do you say 'leg day' in Spanish?
- Gym-goers say día de pierna or día de piernas. Both are common in Latin American fitness culture and social media.