Spanish Conversation · Level 4
87 words
Spanish word
ancla
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈaŋkla/
Meaning
- feminine nounanchor
Example
El marinero dejó caer el ancla.
The sailor lowered the anchor.
More examples
Durante el partido, fue el ancla que mantuvo la calma del equipo.
During the match, he was the anchor who kept the team calm.
Core concept
Heavy iron hook and chain holding a ship in place.
Common phrases
ser el ancla del equipo
be the anchor of the team
cadena del ancla
anchor chain
Similar words
apoyo: Direct assistance or moral support offered to someone facing difficulty.
soporte: Rigid element or bracket that props up an object to stop collapse or breakage.
base: Underlying base or groundwork that ensures an object's stability.
seguridad: Sense of protection and absence of danger that allows calm and confidence.
Definition in Spanish
Persona o cosa que sirve de punto fijo o apoyo para mantener la estabilidad en una situación; en sentido literal, pieza que fija un barco al fondo.
Word origin
The word traces back to Latin ancora and Greek ἄγκυρα 'hook', originally referring to the seafaring implement and later extending metaphorically to mean a support or steadying influence.
Usage tips
- Ancla is grammatically feminine but takes the article el in the singular ('el ancla') to avoid the stressed initial a, while the plural is las anclas.
Related words
- ancladoanchoredadjective
- anclaranchorverb