Spanish word

músculo

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈmuskulo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounmuscle

Example

Necesitas fortalecer los músculos para correr mejor.

You need to strengthen your muscles to run better.

Illustration for músculo (muscle)

More examples

Si haces mucho ejercicio sin descanso, puedes tener dolor en el músculo.

If you exercise a lot without resting, you can have muscle pain.

Core concept

Organ of the muscular system made of bundled contractile fibers that shorten to generate tension and move the body.

Common phrases

  • fortalecer los músculos

    strengthen muscles

  • ganar músculos

    build muscle

  • dolor en el músculo

    muscle pain

Similar words

dolor: Unpleasant bodily sensation ranging from mild discomfort to sharp pain.
calambre: Sudden, involuntary, intensely painful contraction of a muscle.
tensión: Muscle tightness and stiffness caused by sustained contraction or strain.
entrenamiento: Planned physical exercise aimed at increasing muscular strength or endurance.

Definition in Spanish

Unidad del sistema muscular compuesta por fibras capaces de contraerse y generar tensión para mover el cuerpo.

Word origin

From Latin musculus "little mouse", a diminutive of mus "mouse", coined as a metaphor for the small movements or bulges seen under the skin.

Usage tips

  • In addition to the literal sense, tener músculo commonly means power or influence in Spanish, so context determines whether the reference is physical strength or clout.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word