Spanish Conversation · Level 52
75 words
Spanish word
pedernal
Pronunciation
IPA/peðeɾˈnal/
Meaning
- masculine nounflint
Example
Encendimos el fuego con un pedernal.
We lit the fire with a flint.
More examples
¿Dónde encontraste ese pedernal?
Where did you find that flint?
Core concept
A dense silica rock fragment used to strike sparks for firemaking.
Similar words
piedra: Ordinary hard stone found in nature, commonly used in construction and geology.
encendedor: Small handheld device that produces a flame from gas or fuel for lighting.
fósforo: Small stick that ignites by friction when struck or rubbed, producing a flame.
chispa: Tiny hot particle produced by friction or impact, capable of igniting tinder.
Definition in Spanish
Pieza de roca silícea muy dura que al chocar con otra piedra o con metal genera chispas para encender fuego.
Word origin
The Spanish form descends from Latin petra through medieval Latin and Romance alterations that added a formative ending to denote the particular hard siliceous stone used to spark fires.
Usage tips
- The word is relatively specialized and appears mainly in historical, technical, or outdoor contexts (flintlocks, traditional firelighting, geology) rather than in everyday casual speech.