agallas
“agallas” means “guts” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
guts, nerve
Also: grit
📝 In Action
Para enfrentarte a ese jefe, necesitas tener muchas agallas.
B2To face that boss, you need to have a lot of guts.
No tuvo las agallas de decirle la verdad.
B2He didn't have the nerve (or guts) to tell her the truth.
Ella demostró sus agallas al saltar en paracaídas por primera vez.
C1She showed her grit by skydiving for the first time.
gills
Also: gallnut
📝 In Action
Las agallas del pez son de color rojo brillante.
A2The fish's gills are bright red.
El pescador revisó las agallas para ver si el pescado estaba fresco.
B1The fisherman checked the gills to see if the fish was fresh.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: agallas
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'agallas' in its figurative, informal meaning?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin *galla*, meaning 'gallnut' (a hard, round growth found on oak trees). This shape was later applied to the respiratory organs of fish (gills). The figurative meaning of 'courage' developed because the gallnut was associated with hardness or strength, leading to the idea of 'toughness' or 'guts'.
First recorded: Medieval period (referencing the biological meaning)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'agallas' considered a rude word?
No. While it is highly informal, it is not considered rude or vulgar. It's a colorful, common way to talk about bravery, similar to saying 'guts' or 'nerve' in English.
Can I use 'agallas' in the singular?
For the meaning of courage, almost never. Always use 'tener agallas' (plural). For the literal meaning of a fish's gill, you technically *could* say 'una agalla' (one gill), but it is far more common to refer to them as a pair or group ('las agallas').