la cara
/la kaɾa/from spelling rules
In Spanish, the face is la cara.
la cara refers to the front part of the head, extending from the forehead to the chin.
Which one should you use?
While la cara is the standard and common word for the face, el rostro is a more formal or literary term often found in writing and poetry.
Is it said differently in some regions?
la jeta is a colloquial term used mainly in Spain and some Latin American countries.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of la cara is las caras.
How do you pronounce it?
/la kaɾa/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use el rostro in casual conversation. Instead, use la cara as it is the more natural choice for everyday speech.
Did you know?
- The word cara can also mean 'expensive' in Spanish. This creates a distinction between the body part la cara and the adjective cara, which describes a high price.
- The word cara is a linguistic relative of the English word 'head', via their shared connection to the Ancient Greek word kára.
- The phrase tener cara can mean 'to be shameless' or 'to have a lot of nerve' in several Latin American countries.
Examples in context
- Le golpeó la cara.He hit him in the face.This sentence shows the use of la cara to describe being hit in the face.Tatoeba #7923139 by fpp, translation #3756463 by Lindoula
- Ella lo miró a la cara.She stared him in the face.This sentence shows the use of la cara to describe staring someone in the face.Tatoeba #1425779 by marcelostockle, translation #887402 by CK
- Tom le pegó en la cara.Tom punched him in the face.This sentence shows the use of la cara to describe being punched in the face.Tatoeba #2043988 by marcelostockle, translation #1479151 by Spamster
- El rostro de la modelo era radiante y perfecto.The model's face was radiant and perfect.
- La niña tenía una sonrisa tierna en su cara.The little girl had a sweet smile on her face.
- 32 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are getting ready for a party.
- MaríaAlejandro, tienes la cara sucia.Alejandro, you have a dirty face.
- Alejandro¿En serio? No lo sabía.Really? I didn't know.
- MaríaUsa un poco de jabón.Use a little soap.
- AlejandroGracias, María, lo haré ahora.Thanks, María, I will do it now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cara, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
