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costilla

rib

noun kos-TEE-yah Rare
Body & Health Body Parts

Origin: From Latin costa 'rib, side'.

Also means

spare rib (food)

Usage Note

Costilla refers to a rib bone in the body or a cut of meat. In the plural costillas can mean ribs as food (costillas de cerdo = pork ribs). The phrase ser la costilla de alguien (to be someone's rib) humorously refers to a spouse, echoing the biblical origin story.

Examples

"Le duele mucho la costilla rota."

Natural Translation

His broken rib hurts a lot.

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