Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Waist in Spanish: Cintura
Cintura · noun · seen-TOO-rah
Waist in Spanish is cintura, a feminine noun for the narrowest part of the torso between the ribs and hips. It appears in fashion (talla de cintura), fitness (ejercicios de cintura), and medical contexts. The related word cinturón means belt, which wraps around the cintura.
Say seen-TOO-rah with three syllables, stressing the second. The c before i sounds like an s in Latin America and like a th in most of Spain.
Este pantalón me queda perfecto en la cintura.
These pants fit me perfectly at the waist.
Waist in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for waist, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| cintura | waist | seen-TOO-rah | Default, widely understood |
| talle | waist | used for the waist in clothing/fashion, especially Argentina |
How Native Speakers Use Cintura
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Clothing and fit
Necesito un vestido que me ajuste bien en la cintura.
I need a dress that fits me well at the waist.
Clothing discussions frequently reference cintura for fit and sizing.
Exercise context
Estos ejercicios ayudan a fortalecer los músculos de la cintura.
These exercises help strengthen the waist muscles.
Fitness routines often target the cintura for core strength.
Medical measurement
El doctor midió mi cintura para evaluar mi salud cardiovascular.
The doctor measured my waist to evaluate my cardiovascular health.
Waist circumference is a standard health metric in Spanish-language medicine.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Cintura
Confusing cintura with cinturón
Incorrect: Necesito comprar una cintura nueva de cuero.
Correct: Necesito comprar un cinturón nuevo de cuero.
Cintura is the body part (waist), while cinturón is the accessory (belt). Buying a cintura would mean buying a waist, not a belt.
Using cadera when meaning waist
Incorrect: El pantalón me aprieta en la cadera. (pointing at waist)
Correct: El pantalón me aprieta en la cintura.
Cadera means hip, which is below the waist. If the tightness is at the narrowest part of your torso, cintura is the correct word.
Lock in Waist 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 Cintura used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using cintura in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Este pantalón me queda perfecto en la cintura. 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 Waist in Spanish
- How do you say waist in Spanish?
- Waist is cintura in Spanish, pronounced seen-TOO-rah. It is a feminine noun used for the body part, clothing measurements, and fitness references.
- What is the difference between cintura and cadera?
- Cintura is the waist — the narrowest part of the torso above the hips. Cadera is the hip — the wider bone structure below the waist. In clothing, both measurements matter: cintura for waistbands and cadera for skirts and pants that sit on the hips.
- How do you say belt in Spanish?
- Belt is cinturón, derived from cintura (waist). The suffix -ón transforms the body part into the object that wraps around it. Cinturón de seguridad is the term for a seatbelt.