Spanish word

costilla

Pronunciation

IPA/kosˈtiʝa/

Meaning

  • feminine nounrib

Example

Me duele la costilla.

My rib hurts.

Illustration for costilla (rib)

More examples

Voy a comprar costillas para la barbacoa.

I'm going to buy ribs for the barbecue.

Core concept

Curved bone forming the ribcage that protects the heart and lungs.

Common phrases

  • doler la costilla

    have pain in one's rib

  • costilla de cerdo

    pork rib

Similar words

hueso: Hard body tissue forming part of the skeleton.
costa: Single curved bone at the side of the chest.
caja torácica: Bony and cartilaginous cage that surrounds the heart and lungs.
costillar: Rack or slab of bone-in ribs sold or cooked as a meat cut.

Definition in Spanish

Cada uno de los huesos curvos que forman la caja torácica y protegen órganos como el corazón y los pulmones.

Word origin

From Latin costa 'side, rib' plus the diminutive suffix -illa, originally meaning 'little rib' and later used for an individual rib and for rib meat.

Usage tips

  • In statements about pain speakers commonly use the definite article and singular, while menus and recipes usually list costillas in the plural or with a cooking method.

Other meanings

  • rib meatnoun
  • spare ribnoun

Related words

  • costillarrack of ribsnoun
  • costillitaribletnoun

Word lists with this word