hueso
Lemma Details
Translation: bone; pit; stone; core
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: Hueso comes from Latin 'ossum' (later 'os'), meaning 'bone'. The initial 'h' was added in Spanish through a process called h-prothesis, where an 'h' is added at the beginning of words that originally began with a vowel. This is related to English words like 'ossify' (to turn into bone), 'osseous' (bony), and 'ossuary' (a container for bones). The English word 'bone' comes from a different Germanic root.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 20%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Ese problema es un hueso duro de roer.
That problem is a tough nut to crack.
Me rompí un hueso del pie.
I broke a bone in my foot.
El perro está royendo un hueso.
The dog is gnawing on a bone.
Quita el hueso del melocotón antes de comerlo.
Remove the pit from the peach before eating it.
Está en los huesos después de la enfermedad.
He's skin and bones after the illness.
Mnemonics
- Think of an 'ossuary' (bone container) to remember 'hueso' means bone.
- The 'h' is silent in Spanish, so 'hueso' sounds like 'way-so', imagine a bone showing 'the way' somewhere.
- For the fruit pit meaning, imagine a peach with its hard 'hueso' (pit) at its core, like a bone at the center.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cultures, 'hueso' is used in many idioms and expressions related to difficulty, thinness, or core essence. It's also used in the context of food (fruit pits) and in anatomical discussions. During the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico, sugar skulls and bones (calaveras y huesos de azúcar) are common decorative elements.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Hueso' means 'bone' or 'pit', while 'queso' means 'cheese'. They sound similar but differ by the initial consonant.
Confused word:
Me encanta el queso manchego.
I love Manchego cheese.
Notes: The 'h' in 'hueso' is silent, while the 'qu' in 'queso' is pronounced as a 'k' sound.
Mnemonic: Remember: 'H' for 'hard' (bones are hard), 'Q' for 'quesadilla' (which contains cheese).
Explanation: 'Hueso' means 'bone', while 'hueco' means 'hollow' or 'gap'. They look similar in writing but have different meanings and slightly different pronunciations.
Confused word:
Hay un hueco en la pared.
There's a hole in the wall.
Notes: Both words begin with a silent 'h', but 'hueso' contains an 's' while 'hueco' contains a 'c'.
Mnemonic: Think: 'hueSo' has an 'S' for 'Skeleton', while 'hueCo' has a 'C' for 'Cavity'.