Spanish word

calavera

Pronunciation

IPA/kalaˈβeɾa/

Meaning

  • feminine nounskull

Example

Llevas una calavera en la chaqueta.

You're wearing a skull on your jacket.

Illustration for calavera (skull)

More examples

Se compró una camiseta con una calavera estampada.

He bought a t-shirt with a skull print.

Core concept

Human skull and ornamented skull figure.

Common phrases

  • calavera estampada

    skull print

  • calaveras de azúcar

    sugar skulls

Similar words

cráneo: Head's bony structure that protects the brain, described in anatomy and medicine.
calaverita: Tiny skull replica or sugar candy shaped like a skull for decoration or offering.
esqueleto: Arrangement of bones that makes up a skeleton, the body's supporting framework.

Definition in Spanish

Término que designa el cráneo humano y, por extensión, motivos gráficos o figuras en forma de cráneo usados en la cultura, la moda y la sátira.

Word origin

Directly from Latin calvaria 'skull', the word keeps the literal cranial sense while also naming skull motifs in art, fashion, satire and objects like sugar skulls.

Usage tips

  • In fashion and casual talk, calavera frequently names a printed or carved motif rather than a bone, so the sentence 'Llevas una calavera en la chaqueta' normally means a skull design on the jacket.

Word lists with this word