espaldas

back (of body, plural)

noun eh-SPAHL-dahs Rare

Usage Note

Espaldas is almost always used in the plural in everyday Spanish — de espaldas (with one's back turned), a espaldas de alguien (behind someone's back, without their knowledge). The singular espalda exists but is less idiomatic in most fixed phrases. The word also appears in the swimming stroke natación de espalda (backstroke).

Examples

"Cargó los libros en las espaldas."

Natural Translation

He carried the books on his back.

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