Spanish word

martillo

Pronunciation

IPA/maɾˈtiʝo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounhammer

Example

¿Dónde dejaste el martillo?

Where did you leave the hammer?

Illustration for martillo (hammer)

More examples

Necesito un martillo para clavar este clavo.

I need a hammer to drive this nail.

Core concept

Hand tool with a handle and a heavy metal head for driving nails and delivering controlled blows.

Common phrases

  • usar el martillo

    use the hammer

  • martillo y clavos

    hammer and nails

  • mango del martillo

    hammer handle

Similar words

mazo: Heavy striker with a large wooden or leather head for forceful blows on materials.
martillo de carpintero: Small carpentry hammer for driving nails and tapping small parts in woodworking.
martillo de goma: Hammer with a rubber head for striking without marring or denting surfaces.

Definition in Spanish

Utensilio manual compuesto por un mango y una masa de golpe; se emplea principalmente para clavar, asentar piezas y aplicar impactos controlados en trabajos de construcción o bricolaje.

Word origin

The word comes from Late Latin martellus, a diminutive meaning 'little hammer', and enters Spanish via the Romance languages as the name for the common hand-held striking tool.

Usage tips

  • The noun is masculine (el martillo), and mazo denotes a mallet with a softer or larger head so martillo normally refers to a metal-headed hammer.

Related words

  • martillarhammerverb
  • martillazohammer blownoun
  • martilleroauctioneernoun

Word lists with this word