Spanish Conversation · Level 163
30 words
Spanish word
tornillo
Pronunciation
IPA/toɾˈniʝo/
Meaning
- masculine nounscrew
Example
El tornillo está flojo.
The screw is loose.
More examples
Necesito un destornillador para apretar el tornillo.
I need a screwdriver to tighten the screw.
Core concept
External-thread fastener whose helical ridge engages material or a nut when turned to clamp parts together.
Common phrases
apretar el tornillo
tighten the screw
aflojar el tornillo
loosen the screw
sacar el tornillo
remove the screw
Similar words
perno: Heavy threaded rod-like fastener designed to pass through components and be nut-tightened.
tuerca: Small nut-shaped fitting with internal helical grooves that lock onto an external thread.
clavo: Narrow pointed metal fastener hammered into surfaces to hold them together.
taco: Plastic or metal plug that expands or grips inside a hole to anchor a fastener.
Definition in Spanish
Elemento de fijación con rosca que se introduce girándolo en la pieza o en una tuerca para sujetar componentes entre sí.
Word origin
Derived from Latin tornus 'turn' through Spanish torno plus the diminutive -illo, originally referring to a small device secured by rotation.
Usage tips
- Spanish speakers use apretar and aflojar for tightening and loosening a tornillo, while atornillar and desatornillar name the actions of screwing in and unscrewing.
Other meanings
- boltnoun
Related words
- atornillarscrew inverb
- destornilladorscrewdrivernoun
- tornilladoscrew-fastenedadjective