nuca

nape of the neck

noun NOO-kah Rare

Origin: Via Medieval Latin 'nucha' from Arabic 'nuḫāʕ' (spinal marrow).

Usage Note

Nuca specifically refers to the back of the neck, distinct from cuello (neck in general) or cervical (cervical/neck in medical contexts). The Arabic origin reflects the influence of Al-Andalus on Spanish anatomy vocabulary. A haircut that 'reaches the nape' is expressed as llega a la nuca. The plural nucas is regular.

Examples

"Sentí un dolor en la nuca."

Natural Translation

I felt a pain in the nape of my neck.

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