pecho
/ˈpet͡ʃo/masculine
The English word "chest" is pecho in Spanish. Wiktionary also lists tórax.
Meaning: thorax (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pecho | /ˈpet͡ʃo/ | masculine |
| tórax | /ˈtoɾaɡs/ | masculine |
pecho refers to the front part of the upper body in general, which includes the breasts in females and the pectoral muscles in males. tórax refers specifically to the region of the body between the neck and the abdomen.
Which one should you use?
pecho is the common, everyday word for chest used in both anatomical and general contexts. In contrast, tórax is a technical or medical term specifically referring to the anatomical thorax.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, when referring to parts of the body, the definite article el is used instead of a possessive adjective like "my" or "his".
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpetʃo/
Did you know?
- If you are talking about a physical box or a treasure chest, you would use cofre or baúl instead of pecho.
- The Spanish word pecho can also be used metaphorically to mean 'will' or 'courage', such as in the phrase 'poner el pecho a las balas', which means to face difficulties head-on.
- The term tórax comes from the Ancient Greek word for a piece of armor, specifically a breastplate.
Examples in context
- Tiene el pecho peludo.He has a hairy chest.This sentence describes someone with a hairy pecho.Tatoeba #5131033 by don_ramon, translation #2192613 by Hybrid
- Tengo dolores en el pecho.I have a pain in my chest.This sentence is useful for expressing that one has pain in the pecho.Tatoeba #1280131 by marcelostockle, translation #436637 by lukaszpp
- A Tomás le duele el pecho.Tom's chest is hurting.This sentence shows how to say that the pecho is hurting someone named Tomás.Tatoeba #5052616 by don_ramon, translation #9849240 by kremel
- El médico colocó el estetoscopio en mi pecho para escuchar mi corazón.The doctor placed the stethoscope on my chest to listen to my heart.
- El cirujano realizó una incisión en el tórax para acceder al corazón.The surgeon made an incision in the chest to access the heart.
- Después de hacer ejercicio, sentía mi pecho arder debido al esfuerzo.After exercising, I could feel my chest burn due to the effort.
- 32 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A doctor's office where a woman is describing her symptoms.
- JavierMaría, ¿siente alguna molestia en el pecho?María, do you feel any discomfort in your chest?
- MaríaSí, Javier, siento una presión en el pecho.Yes, Javier, I feel a pressure in my chest.
- JavierVoy a auscultar su pecho para revisarla.I am going to listen to your chest to examine you.
- MaríaEstá bien, doctor, gracias.That is fine, doctor, thank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chest” translations and entries pecho, tórax, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pecho, tórax, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
