talón
/taˈlon/masculine
In Spanish, the word for heel (the anatomical part of the foot) is talón. It is also spelled calcaño or carcañal. Wiktionary also lists calcañar and calcañal.
Meaning: anatomy: part of the foot (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| talón | /taˈlon/ | masculine |
| calcaño | /kalˈkaɲo/ | masculine, alternative form |
| calcañar | /kalkaˈɲaɾ/ | masculine |
| calcañal | /kalkaˈɲal/ | masculine |
| carcañal | /kaɾkaˈɲal/ | masculine, alternative form |
| carcaño | /kaɾkaɲo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
Talón is used to refer to the back part of the human foot. It is also used metaphorically in the idiom talón de Aquiles to describe a person's weakness or vulnerable point.
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between the body part and footwear. Use talón for the anatomical heel of the foot, but use tacón when referring to the heel of a shoe or a high heel.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Several alternative forms of the word exist, including calcañar, calcaño, calcañal, carcañal and carcaño.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Talón is a masculine noun. The plural form is talones.
How do you pronounce it?
/taˈlon/
When do people say it?
The expression talón de Aquiles is used in Spanish to describe a vulnerability, mirroring the way it is used in English.
Did you know?
- The term talón is used in Spanish to refer to the 'stub' or 'butt' of a cigarette or a ticket, moving far beyond anatomy.
- The English word 'talon', used for the claws of a bird of prey, is actually a linguistic cousin to the Spanish talón.
- In Spanish, the phrase levantar el talón can be used to describe someone who is eager to leave a place or is impatient to start a journey.
Examples in context
- Todos tienen un talón de Aquiles.Everyone has an Achilles' heel.This sentence shows how to use the idiom talón de Aquiles.Tatoeba #2239938 by marcelostockle, translation #13613122 by araneo
- Mi talón izquierdo está inflamado.My left heel is inflamed.This sentence demonstrates using talón to describe a physical condition of the foot.Tatoeba #4289952 by DarkHollow, translation #1656490 by Mofli
- Aquiles tenía un talón vulnerable.Achilles had a vulnerable heel.This sentence provides a literary context for the word talón.Tatoeba #13022413 by Eremon, translation #10386936 by DJ_Saidez
- Esos tacones te quedan fabulosos.Those heels look fabulous on you.
- Me encantan tus tacos nuevos.I love your new heels.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are talking about a new pair of shoes.
- ElenaMe duele mucho el talón con estos zapatos.My heel hurts a lot with these shoes.
- JavierQuizás necesitas una plantilla para el talón.Maybe you need a heel insert.
- ElenaSí, el talón me roza demasiado.Yes, it rubs my heel too much.
- JavierCámbiate los zapatos antes de lastimar tu talón.Change your shoes before you hurt your heel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “heel” translations and entries talón, calcaño, calcañar, calcañal, carcañal, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries calcañal, calcañar, calcaño, talón, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
