espinilla
/espiˈniʝa/feminine
The English word 'shin' is translated into Spanish as espinilla. If unsure, use espinilla. Wiktionary also lists canilla and tibia.
Meaning: front part of the leg below the knee (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| espinilla | /espiˈniʝa/ /espiˈniʎa/ |
feminine |
| canilla | /kaˈniʝa/ | feminine |
| tibia | /ˈtibja/ | feminine |
The term refers to the front part of the leg below the knee.
Which one should you use?
While espinilla is the common word for the shin, tibia is the specific anatomical term for the shin bone. In certain contexts, you may also encounter canilla, which is a more informal way to refer to the shin.
Is it said differently in some regions?
canilla is a common way to refer to the shin in several Latin American countries, such as Argentina and Uruguay.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the word plural, add an -s to the end: espinillas.
How do you pronounce it?
/espiˈniʝa/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not confuse espinilla (shin) with espinazo (backbone/spine), as they share a similar root but refer to different parts of the body.
Did you know?
- The term tibia is shared with English, but in Latin it originally referred to a flute made from a shin bone.
- The word espinilla is a diminutive of espina, which means 'thorn'. Literally, it describes the shin as a 'little thorn'.
- In some regions, the word canilla is used specifically when referring to the lower leg in the context of physical strength or 'sturdy legs'.
Examples in context
- Me he hecho un corte en la espinilla.I've cut my shin open.This sentence is useful for describing a cut on the espinilla.Tatoeba #10558530 by Seael, translation #6978093 by Eccles17
- El futbolista se lastimó la espinilla durante el partido.The soccer player injured his shin during the game.
- ¡Me golpeé la canilla con el mueble!I hit my shin on the furniture!
- Me duele mucho la espinilla derecha.My right shin hurts a lot.
- Se golpeó la espinilla con la mesa.He hit his shin on the table.
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are at a sports clinic.
- Alejandro¿Qué te pasó en la pierna, María?What happened to your leg, María?
- MaríaMe golpeé la espinilla jugando al fútbol.I hit my shin playing soccer.
- AlejandroParece que la espinilla está muy inflamada.It looks like your shin is very swollen.
- MaríaSí, me duele al caminar.Yes, it hurts when I walk.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shin” translations and entries espinilla, canilla, tibia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries canilla, espinilla, tibia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
