pantorrilla
/pantoˈriʝa/
The English phrase "leg calf" is translated into Spanish as pantorrilla.
pantorrilla refers to the muscular back part of the lower leg located between the knee and the ankle.
How do you pronounce it?
/pantoˈriʝa/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, people call the calf gemelo, which means 'twin'. This refers to the two distinct heads of the gastrocnemius muscle.
- The word pantorrilla uses the suffix -illa, which is a diminutive. In this case, it does not mean the calf is small, but rather follows a pattern in Spanish where certain body parts use diminutive forms as their standard names.
- The phrase tener pantorrillas de acero, or 'to have calves of steel', is often used to describe professional cyclists or people with extreme endurance.
Examples in context
- Me duele la pantorrilla después de correr tanto.My calf hurts after running so much.
- Tengo un pequeño desgarro en el gemelo derecho.I have a small tear in my right calf.
- Me duele la pantorrilla derecha.My right calf hurts.
- Tiene una pantorrilla muy fuerte.He has a very strong calf.
- La pantorrilla es una parte sensible.The calf is a sensitive part.
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are stretching after a run.
- JavierSiento mucha tensión en la pantorrilla.I feel a lot of tension in my calf.
- SofíaDeberías estirar más despacio, Javier.You should stretch more slowly, Javier.
- JavierTienes razón, me duele la pantorrilla.You're right, my calf hurts.
- SofíaDescansa un poco ahora, Sofía recomienda descansar.Rest a bit now, Sofía recommends resting.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pantorrilla, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pantorrilla, CC BY-SA 4.0.
