Arm
This means 'weapon' or 'firearm'. It's a feminine noun and a classic false friend with 'arm'.
This is the verb 'to arm' (as in giving someone a weapon) or 'to assemble/put together'.
My right arm hurts.
The baby has small arms.
Raise your arms, please.
The police found the weapon.
The word 'brazo' for the body part is standard and universally understood across all Spanish-speaking countries.
The word 'brazo' is the same, but the 'z' is pronounced with a 'th' sound (like in 'thin'), resulting in a 'BRAH-tho' sound.
No significant variation. 'Brazo' is the standard term, and the 'z' is pronounced like an 's'.
Usage is standard. 'Brazo' is the correct and only common term for the body part.
'Brazo' is used just as in the rest of Latin America. The pronunciation is the standard 'BRAH-so'.
Using 'arma' for the body part. — This is a very common mix-up. 'Brazo' is your arm. 'Arma' is a weapon. Saying 'Me duele el arma' means 'The weapon hurts me'.
Using the wrong gender. — 'Brazo' is a masculine noun. Always use 'el brazo' or 'un brazo', not 'la brazo'. For example: 'El brazo es fuerte' (The arm is strong).
Using possessive pronouns like 'mi' or 'tu'. — When talking about your own body parts, Spanish speakers use definite articles (el, la, los, las). Instead of 'Mi brazo duele', the natural way to say it is 'Me duele el brazo' (literally, 'To me, the arm hurts').
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