Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Rodilla in English: Knee — Spanish Body Part Vocabulary
Rodilla · noun (feminine) · rroh-DEE-yah
Rodilla (rroh-DEE-yah) is the Spanish word for knee. It's a feminine noun: la rodilla. The verb arrodillarse means to kneel (literally, to put oneself on one's knees). Las rodillas is the plural (both knees).
Rodilla is rroh-DEE-yah, three syllables, stress on DEE. The rr is trilled; the ll sounds like y.
Me duele la rodilla cuando subo escaleras.
My knee hurts when I go up stairs.
Rodilla in English in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for rodilla in english, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| rodilla | rodilla in english | rroh-DEE-yah | Default, widely understood |
| knee | rodilla in english | English translation | |
| arrodillarse | rodilla in english | to kneel (verb) |
How Native Speakers Use Rodilla
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Pain in the knee
Me lastimé la rodilla jugando fútbol.
I hurt my knee playing soccer.
La rodilla with the article—body parts use the article, not possessives.
Kneeling
Se arrodilló para pedirle matrimonio.
He knelt down to propose.
Arrodillarse is the verb derived from rodilla.
Both knees
Dobla las rodillas al levantar algo pesado.
Bend your knees when lifting something heavy.
Las rodillas is the plural.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Rodilla
Using possessive instead of article
Incorrect: Me duele mi rodilla.
Correct: Me duele la rodilla.
Spanish uses the definite article (la) with body parts when the possessor is clear from context. Mi rodilla is not wrong but sounds redundant.
Forgetting the double l pronunciation
Incorrect: Roh-DIL-ah (English l sound).
Correct: Rroh-DEE-yah (y sound for ll).
The ll in rodilla is pronounced like y in most dialects, not like an English l.
Lock in Rodilla in English 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 Rodilla used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Rodilla in English in Spanish
- What does rodilla mean in English?
- Rodilla means knee. It's feminine: la rodilla (the knee), las rodillas (the knees).
- How do I say kneecap in Spanish?
- Kneecap is rótula. La rótula is the patella or kneecap, the small bone at the front of the knee.
- What is arrodillarse?
- Arrodillarse means to kneel—to get down on one's rodillas. It's a reflexive verb: me arrodillo (I kneel), se arrodilló (he/she knelt).