Spanish Conversation · Level 189
15 words
Spanish word
grifo
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈgɾifo/
Meaning
- masculine nounfaucet
Example
¿Puedes cerrar el grifo?
Can you turn off the faucet?
More examples
El grifo gotea y hay que repararlo.
The faucet is dripping and needs to be repaired.
Core concept
Small valve with a rotating or lever handle used to turn water on and off.
Common phrases
cerrar el grifo
turn off the faucet
abrir el grifo
turn on the faucet
reparar el grifo
repair the faucet
Similar words
llave: Knob or spindle that controls water flow on a tap or pipe.
canilla: Tap used in Argentina and nearby regions for turning water on and off.
mezclador: Faucet that blends hot and cold supplies to deliver water at a chosen temperature.
llave de paso: Valve mounted on a pipe that shuts off water to part of a plumbing system.
Definition in Spanish
Dispositivo de grifería que regula el caudal y permite cortar o dejar pasar el agua en una instalación sanitaria.
Word origin
Derived from medieval Latin grīphus from Greek grýps 'griffin', referring at first to decorative beast-shaped spouts and later to taps in general.
Usage tips
- In Mexico and parts of Latin America llave frequently means both 'key' and 'faucet', so context determines whether llave refers to a tap or to a key.