me duele la oreja
/me dwele la oɾexa/from spelling rules
The English phrase "my ear hurts" is translated into Spanish as me duele la oreja.
This phrase is used to express physical pain specifically located in the external part of the ear.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "to me it hurts the ear" rather than the English structure "my ear hurts."
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between the parts of the ear in Spanish. Use la oreja to refer to the external part of the ear, while el oído is used when referring to the internal part or the sense of hearing.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the construction Tengo dolor de oídos. is used to express pain in both ears.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using a possessive adjective like mi (my) as in mi oreja duele. Instead, use the indirect object pronoun me and the definite article la.
Did you know?
- The word oreja has a linguistic twin in the word aurícula, both originating from the same Latin root. This makes the common word for the external ear a 'doublet' of a more technical anatomical term.
- Using me duele treats the pain as the subject acting upon the person, essentially saying the pain is 'happening' to you.
- In Spain, a very common way to report this pain is to say Tengo dolor de oídos, which uses the plural form to describe the sensation even if you are only feeling it in one ear.
Examples in context
- Me duele la oreja por el viento.My ear hurts because of the wind.
- Me duele la oreja derecha.My right ear hurts.
- No puedo dormir porque me duele la oreja.I can't sleep because my ear hurts.
Example conversation
Elena tells Mateo that she feels pain after using headphones.
- ElenaMateo, me duele la oreja.Mateo, my ear hurts.
- Mateo¿Por qué te duele?Why does it hurt?
- ElenaUsé los auriculares mucho tiempo.I used the headphones for a long time.
- MateoDeberías descansar un poco.You should rest for a bit.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries la, me, oreja, CC BY-SA 4.0.
