rodilla
/roˈdiʝa/
rodilla is the Spanish word for knee.
rodilla refers to the joint in the middle of the leg that allows it to bend. In a technical or medical context, you may see the more formal expression la articulación de la rodilla to specifically mean the knee joint.
How does it change in a sentence?
rodilla is a feminine noun. It is typically preceded by the feminine article la to form la rodilla (the knee). To express the plural, use rodillas (knees).
How do you pronounce it?
/roˈdiʝa/
Did you know?
- Etymologically, your knee is a 'little wheel'.
- The phrase estar hasta las rodillas is often used to say someone is deeply involved in something, similar to the English 'up to my neck'.
- While ponerse de rodillas literally means to kneel, it is frequently used as a metaphor for surrendering or being forced to submit.
Examples in context
- Me duele la rodilla.My knee hurts.
- Me duele la rodilla derecha.My right knee hurts.
- Ella se golpeó la rodilla al caer.She hit her knee when she fell.
- Tengo una cicatriz en la rodilla.I have a scar on my knee.
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are walking in a park.
- JavierElena, ¿estás bien?Elena, are you okay?
- ElenaSí, pero me duele la rodilla.Yes, but my knee hurts.
- JavierTe caíste con fuerza.You fell hard.
- ElenaSolo necesito sentarme un momento.I just need to sit for a moment.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry rodilla, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rodilla, CC BY-SA 4.0.
