Confusion: oreja/ oído = ear

Question

I am seeing lots of confusions on the word of the day thread, please mind that

oreja: outer ear

oído : inner ear

Answer 1

Technically the outer ear is the ear up to the eardrum. After that you get into the middle and inner ear.

Outer ear is the ear flaps (refer to elephant picture) to the ear drum. Where the qtip sticks.

Middle ear is the little bones called hammer, anvil and stirrup.These lie between the tympanic membrane and the foramen ovale.Both of these are membranes.

The inner ear (oído) is the cochlea and semicircular canal.These are actually encased in the bone on the side of your head

Right. - webdunce, Nov 30, 2009

And, the middle ear has the little bones that vibrate and the inner ear has the fluid...neither of which is frequently seen. I think oído might be referring to the ear holes? - webdunce, Nov 30, 2009

Answer 2

I think of to hear - oir with your oidos, inner ear, that´s why you have doler de oidos, earache, leaving la oreja to be outer ear.

Answer 3

In English we say 'ear. 'ear. This means: I agree. Don't ask me why, it just does!

It is in Wikipedia under "Hear Hear". - 00f2b5a1, Nov 30, 2009

Answer 4

This timely clarification is much appreciated. I'm about to take my ancient golden retriever to a vet south of the border to have his inner ear cleared of impacted wax. The dear old fellow is not only dealing with a bad hip, but has become virtually "sordo."

Now I know what word to use. "oídos"

Thanks.

Buena suerte :-) - --Mariana--, Nov 30, 2009

Answer 5

l am listening = soy todo oídos

Answer 6

Well, on hindsight, we do sometimes use it that way

¡No oyes nada! Lávate las orejas!

this should be oídos, but anyway....

Answer 7

Pues claro está: es un error; jeje, esto debería ser oído.

Answer 8

Ya sabía que hay dos palabras distintas tal como mencionaste (aunque aun así a veces me confuso al tratar de usarlas.) Pero me sorprendí que una definición de oreja es "Ear, the organ of hearing."

Heidita, ¿puedes clarificar esta por favor?

Answer 9

Same confusion here on Nicole's thread.