la nariz

Definition & meaning

Nariz means nose: the part of the face used for breathing and smelling. It can also refer to the nose or snout of an animal.

Informally, narices can express surprise, annoyance, or emphasis, much like “the heck” in English.

Grammar & Word origin

• Nariz is a feminine noun: la nariz. Its plural is las narices.
• It comes from Latin narīx, meaning “nostril” or “nose.”

Synonyms & antonyms

• hocico ↗ — “snout” or “muzzle”; used mainly for animals and can be insulting when applied to a person.
• olfato ↗ — “sense of smell”; related to the nose but not a synonym for the body part.

There is no direct antonym.

Common phrases & collocations

• sonarse la nariz ↗ — to blow one’s nose.
• meter las narices ↗ — to poke one’s nose into other people’s affairs.
• tener buen olfato ↗ — to have a good sense of smell or a good instinct.