Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| esqueleto | /eskeˈleto/ | masculine |
| osamenta | /osaˈmenta/ | feminine |
| osatura | /osatuɾa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| osambre | /oˈsambɾe/ | masculine |
The terms used in Spanish refer to the system that provides support to an organism.
Which one should you use?
While esqueleto is the standard term, other forms are used depending on the context. Osamenta refers specifically to skeletal remains, whereas osatura is used to describe a skeletal structure. Osambre is also a masculine form for skeleton.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For specialized or academic settings, you can use the phrase Armazón óseo, which means bony framework. In scientific, archaeological or legal contexts, the term osamenta is a more formal or technical way to refer to a collection of bones. The term osatura is a technical term used specifically in anatomy or biology to refer to the structural framework of bones.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun esqueleto requires masculine articles such as el or un. The feminine nouns osamenta and osatura require feminine articles like la or una. The masculine form osambre also exists.
How do you pronounce it?
esqueleto is pronounced /eskeˈleto/.
Did you know?
- The Greek origin of esqueleto actually meant 'dried up', which provides a vivid historical image of what a skeleton looks like.
- The Latin root of osamenta comes from ossa, which is the same root found in the English word 'ossify'.
- The word osatura can be used to describe a person's physical build or frame, not just their biological skeleton.
Examples in context
- Está tan delgado que parece un esqueleto.He's so thin that he looks like a skeleton.This sentence uses esqueleto to describe someone who is extremely thin.Tatoeba #1391510 by Shishir, translation #1090271 by CK
- Los exploradores descubrieron un esqueleto en la cueva.The explorers discovered a skeleton in the cave.This sentence uses esqueleto to describe a skeleton found in a cave.Tatoeba #1189847 by Shishir, translation #276708 by CK
- Un cuerpo humano promedio contiene suficientes huesos para componer un esqueleto humano completo.The average human body contains enough bones to make an entire human skeleton.This sentence uses esqueleto to refer to the complete skeletal system of a human body.Tatoeba #3877966 by cueyayotl, translation #3877960 by AlanF_US
- El esqueleto humano consta de 206 huesos.The human skeleton consists of 206 bones.
- La calaca es uno de los símbolos principales del Día de los Muertos en México.The skeleton (calaca) is one of the main symbols of the Day of the Dead in Mexico.
- ¡Ese disfraz de catrina tiene un esqueleto muy colorido!That catrina costume has a very colorful skeleton!
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are in a biology class looking at a model.
- JavierMira este esqueleto de plástico.Look at this plastic skeleton.
- SofíaEs muy útil para estudiar los huesos.It is very useful for studying bones.
- Javier¿Sabes dónde está el cráneo del esqueleto?Do you know where the skeleton's skull is?
- SofíaEstá justo aquí arriba, Javier.It is right here on top, Javier.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “skeleton” translations and entries esqueleto, osamenta, osatura, osambre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries esqueleto, osambre, osamenta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
