Spanish word

rostro

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈrostɾo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounface

Example

Ella tiene un rostro sonriente.

She has a smiling face.

Illustration for rostro (face)

More examples

Su rostro se iluminó al recibir la noticia.

Her face lit up when she received the news.

Core concept

Front of the head showing eyes, nose and mouth.

Common phrases

  • rostro sonriente

    smiling face

  • arrugar el rostro

    wrinkle one's face

  • rostro pálido

    pale face

Similar words

cara: Everyday term for the front of the head with eyes, nose and mouth.
semblante: Temporary facial expression reflecting current mood or attitude.
fisonomía: Overall facial appearance and structure suggesting a look or type.
rasgo: Distinctive facial feature or line of the eyes, nose, mouth, etc.

Definition in Spanish

Parte delantera de la cabeza humana donde están los ojos, la nariz y la boca, y que muestra las expresiones.

Word origin

From Latin rostrum 'beak, snout', originally referring to a projecting nose or muzzle and later extended to a person's facial appearance.

Usage tips

  • More common in formal, literary, or descriptive contexts, while cara is the usual word in everyday conversation.

Other meanings

  • countenancenoun

Word lists with this word