noun

el codo

elbow

Parte del brazo donde se une la parte de arriba con la de abajo y que permite doblarlo.

Definition & meaning

The word codo primarily refers to the elbow, which is the joint between the forearm and the upper arm in the human body. Beyond this anatomical definition, it has several other common uses:

Anatomy: The outer part of the joint where the arm bends.
Objects: A piece of piping or tubing that has a sharp bend or curve, resembling the shape of an elbow.
Colloquial (Personality trait): In many Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in Mexico and parts of Latin America, it is used as an adjective to describe someone who is stingy, cheap, or reluctant to spend money.
Idioms:
- Hablar por los codos: This expression is used to describe someone who talks excessively or incessantly.
- Empinar el codo: Literally "to tilt the elbow," this idiom means to drink alcohol, often implying drinking to excess.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar:

Gender: Masculine (el codo).
Plural: los codos.
When used to mean "stingy," it functions as an adjective. For example: "No seas codo" (Don't be stingy).

Word origin: The word comes from the Latin term cubitus, which also referred to the elbow and was used as a unit of measurement (a cubit). This Latin root is shared with the English word "cubit" and the Spanish verb incumbir.