Spanish Conversation · Level 148
30 words
Spanish word
machete
Pronunciation
IPA/maˈtʃete/
Meaning
- masculine nounmachete
Example
¿Dónde está tu machete?
Where's your machete?
More examples
En la finca siempre llevan un machete para cortar la maleza.
On the farm they always carry a machete to cut the weeds.
Core concept
Long broad-bladed field knife used to clear vegetation and harvest cane.
Common phrases
llevar un machete
carry a machete
afilar el machete
sharpen the machete
machete grande
big machete
Similar words
cuchillo: Slim-bladed kitchen and utility knife for slicing food and small tasks.
hacha: Heavy tool with a long handle and wedge head that chops and splits wood.
sierra: Tool with a toothed blade that cuts wood or metal by a back-and-forth motion.
navaja: Small folding pocket knife that fits in a pocket for everyday carry.
Definition in Spanish
Cuchillo grande de hoja ancha, manejado con una mano, empleado para desbrozar vegetación espesa, cortar caña u otras tareas rurales y domésticas.
Word origin
The word comes from Spanish and Portuguese, formed with the diminutive suffix -ete from a term for a heavy implement and long associated with farming and garden work.
Usage tips
- In everyday speech, machete commonly denotes an ordinary farm or gardening tool rather than implying violence.
Related words
- macheteromachete wieldernoun
- machetazomachete blownoun
- machetearcut with a macheteverb