Spanish word

gancho

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈgantʃo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounhook

Example

Pon la llave en el gancho de la entrada.

Put the key on the hook by the entrance.

Illustration for gancho (hook)

More examples

Cuelga la chaqueta en el gancho del pasillo.

Hang the jacket on the hook in the hallway.

Core concept

Attention-grabbing element that hooks an audience in a headline, ad, or story.

Common phrases

  • gancho para ropa

    clothes hook

  • gancho de pared

    wall-mounted hook

Similar words

percha: Individual hanger shaped to hold a single item of clothing in a closet.
perchero: Multi-hook or freestanding rack designed to organize several garments.
colgador: Mounted hanging fixture on furniture or a wall for keeping items off surfaces.

Definition in Spanish

Recurso o rasgo que atrae y mantiene el interés de personas en conversaciones, textos o publicidad; en sentido literal, objeto pequeño y curvado para colgar ropa u otros objetos.

Word origin

From Vulgar Latin ganchium 'hooked implement', gancho refers both to a small curved hook and, by metaphor, to an element that 'hooks' people's interest.

Usage tips

  • The phrase 'tener gancho' functions like 'be appealing' in English and commonly appears without an article, for example 'La película tiene gancho'.

Other meanings

  • hangernoun

Related words

  • engancharhookverb
  • enganchadoaddictedadjective
  • enganchesnagnoun

Word lists with this word