muela del juicio
/mwela del xwiθjo/from spelling rulesfeminine
The English phrase "wisdom tooth" is muela del juicio in Spanish. Wiktionary also lists cordal and muela cordal.
Meaning: rearmost molar in humans (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| muela del juicio | /mwela del xwiθjo/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /mwela del xwisjo/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
| cordal | /koɾˈdal/ | feminine |
| muela cordal | /mwela koɾdal/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
This term refers to the rearmost molar in humans. In Spanish, using the word muela specifies that you are talking about a molar, whereas diente would refer to a tooth in general.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase muela del juicio literally translates to "molar of judgment".
Which one should you use?
In contrast, cordal or muela cordal are more technical or clinical terms used by dentists and in medical contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural "wisdom teeth", you pluralize the noun to las muelas del juicio, while the phrase del juicio remains unchanged.
Did you know?
- The term muela shares an ancient root with the English word 'mill', both originating from the idea of grinding.
- In Spanish, juicio can also mean 'sanity', meaning muela del juicio could be interpreted as the 'molar of sanity'.
- The term muela del juicio reflects the cultural idea that these teeth emerge when a person reaches the 'age of reason'.
Examples in context
- Me duele la muela del juicio superior derecha.My upper right wisdom tooth hurts.This sentence is useful for specifying which muela del juicio is causing pain.Tatoeba #5872341 by baudelaire, translation #27060 by CK
- Me duela la muela del juicio.My wisdom tooth hurts.This sentence is useful for stating that a muela del juicio is hurting.Tatoeba #456494 by lukaszpp, translation #456493 by lukaszpp
- Esta tarde necesito programar una extracción de la muela del juicio.This afternoon I need to schedule a wisdom tooth extraction.
- ¡Me están matando las muelas del juicio!My wisdom teeth are killing me!
- El dentista me tiene que extraer la muela del juicio.The dentist has to extract my wisdom tooth.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are talking at a coffee shop about dental health.
- Sofía¿Te sigue doliendo la muela del juicio?Does your wisdom tooth still hurt?
- AlejandroSí, Sofía, es una molestia constante.Yes, Sofía, it is a constant discomfort.
- SofíaDeberías ir al dentista pronto.You should go to the dentist soon.
- AlejandroTienes razón, voy a pedir una cita.You are right, I am going to make an appointment.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wisdom tooth” translations and entries muela del juicio, cordal, muela cordal, 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 cordal, del, juicio, muela, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
