concha
/ˈkont͡ʃa/feminine
The English word shell can be translated into Spanish as concha, caparazón or carapacho.
Meaning: hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| concha | /ˈkont͡ʃa/ | feminine |
| caparazón | /kapaɾaˈθon/ /kapaɾaˈson/ |
feminine, masculine |
| carapacho | /kaɾaˈpat͡ʃo/ | masculine |
The term refers to the hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of many invertebrates. In many Spanish-speaking countries, concha is the standard term for a seashell found on a beach.
Which one should you use?
Use concha specifically for the shells of mollusks like clams, snails or scallops. In contrast, use caparazón for the hard outer coverings of animals like crabs, turtles or beetles.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
concha is a feminine noun. caparazón is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkontʃa/
Did you know?
- In many Latin American countries, particularly Argentina, concha is a vulgar slang term for female genitalia. Using it to describe a seashell in these regions can cause extreme embarrassment or offense.
- The word caparazón comes from the Late Latin cappa, meaning 'cape' or 'cloak'. This describes the shell as a garment that the animal wears to protect itself.
- While concha is common for beach shells, some Spanish speakers use the word caracola specifically for spiral shells like conchs that can be used as trumpets.
Examples in context
- ¡Oh! Es una concha.Oh! It's a shell.Tatoeba #5678937 by baudelaire, translation #12912098 by araneo
- El caracol se refugió en su caparazón.The snail retreated into its shell.Tatoeba #1593737 by marcelostockle, translation #1593727 by trieuho
- La concha de un caracol tiene forma de espiral.A snail's shell is spiral in form.Tatoeba #1981319 by marcelostockle, translation #1593722 by trieuho
- La concha de esta caracola tiene un patrón único.The shell of this seashell has a unique pattern.
- El caparazón de la tortuga está diseñado para proteger su cuerpo.The turtle's shell is designed to protect its body.
- ¡Mira estas caracolas que encontré en la playa!Look at these seashells I found on the beach!
- No tires las cáscaras de las nueces en el jardín.Don't throw the nutshells in the garden.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are walking along a beach.
- DanielMira esta concha blanca en la arena.Look at this white shell in the sand.
- ElenaEs muy bonita, Daniel.It is very beautiful, Daniel.
- DanielLa concha es perfecta.The shell is perfect.
- Elena¿Quieres guardarla en tu bolso?Do you want to keep it in your bag?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shell” translations and entries concha, caparazón, carapacho, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caparazón, carapacho, concha, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
