Spanish Conversation · Level 22
90 words
Spanish word
muelle
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈmweʝe/
Meaning
- masculine nounpier
Example
¿Vamos al muelle esta tarde?
Shall we go to the pier this afternoon?
More examples
El colchón tiene un muelle roto.
The mattress has a broken spring.
Core concept
Platform extending from the shore over the water where boats tie up and people and cargo embark or disembark.
Common phrases
ir al muelle
go to the pier
pasear por el muelle
walk along the pier
el muelle pesquero
the fishing pier
Similar words
embarcadero: Shore landing or platform built for boarding boats and loading or unloading cargo.
puerto: Harbor area where ships gather and dock for mooring, cargo handling, and passenger transfer.
Definition in Spanish
Construcción situada en la orilla o sobre el agua destinada al atraque de embarcaciones y a facilitar la subida y bajada de personas y cargas.
Word origin
From a Romance maritime word related to Italian molo and French môle, originally naming a built projection into the water; the separate 'spring' sense derives from Latin mollis 'soft'.
Usage tips
- Because muelle also denotes a mechanical spring in Spanish, speakers often use resorte for a coil spring or add puerto (muelle del puerto) when the pier sense must be clear.
Other meanings
- springnoun
Related words
- muellecitosmall piernoun