Spanish Conversation · Level 4
87 words
Spanish word
trabar
Pronunciation
IPA/tɾaˈβaɾ/
Meaning
- verbget stuck
Example
La llave se traba en la cerradura.
The key gets stuck in the lock.
More examples
El archivo se traba al abrirlo.
The file jams when you open it.
Core concept
A crosspiece or beam caught between moving parts, stopping motion.
Common phrases
trabar la cerradura
jam in the lock
trabar la lengua
become tongue-tied
trabar el motor
stall in the engine
Similar words
atascar: Become tightly stuck inside a cavity or pipe, preventing passage.
bloquear: Form a blockage that closes off a route and halts movement.
atorar: Become trapped by fitting too tightly into a narrow slot or hole.
enredar: Become entangled into loops or knots, making separation difficult.
Definition in Spanish
Indica quedar detenido o impedir el movimiento o la acción, aplicable a objetos, mecanismos o al habla.
Word origin
From Latin trabs 'beam', Spanish traba originally means a crosspiece that blocks movement, and the verb trabar keeps the sense of causing something to catch or lock.
Usage tips
- Spanish uses the reflexive trabarse for speech that gets stuck (se le trabó la lengua), for machines trabar usually implies a part is caught or jammed, and trabar is unrelated to trabajar 'to work'.
Other meanings
- jamverb
- lockverb
Opposites
- destrabarunjamverb
- aflojarloosenverb
Related words
- trabaobstructionnoun
- trabadojammedadjective