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agujero

ah-goo-HEH-roh/a.ɣuˈxe.ɾo/

hole, opening

Also: tear
NounmA2
A circular hole punched through a piece of smooth brown wooden surface, showing darkness inside.

📝 In Action

Hay un agujero enorme en la pared del sótano.

A2

There is an enormous hole in the basement wall.

Necesito coser el agujero de mi calcetín antes de ponérmelo.

A1

I need to sew the hole in my sock before putting it on.

Tuvimos que tapar el agujero para que no entraran los insectos.

B1

We had to cover the opening so the insects wouldn't come in.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • hoyo (pit, hole in the ground)
  • hueco (gap, empty space)

Common Collocations

  • hacer un agujero – to make a hole
  • tapar un agujero – to plug/fill a hole

deficit, gap

Also: shortfall
NounmB1
A red ceramic piggy bank standing empty, with a visible crack in its side from which a few coins have fallen onto the ground.

📝 In Action

Las nuevas cuentas muestran un agujero fiscal de tres millones de dólares.

B1

The new accounts show a fiscal deficit of three million dollars.

Intentamos tapar el agujero de conocimiento con cursos intensivos.

B2

We tried to fill the knowledge gap with intensive courses.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • déficit (deficit)
  • brecha (gap, breach)

Common Collocations

  • agujero negro – black hole (literal and figurative/financial)
  • agujero fiscal – fiscal deficit

dump, dive

Also: godforsaken place
NounmC1informal
A dilapidated, gray shack with broken windows and overgrown weeds surrounding it, looking dismal and abandoned.

📝 In Action

Este bar es un agujero, vámonos a otro sitio.

B2

This bar is a dump/dive, let's go somewhere else.

Pasé dos semanas viviendo en un pequeño agujero sin internet.

C1

I spent two weeks living in a little remote spot without internet.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • pocilga (pigsty, filthy place)
  • antro (dive bar)

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: agujero

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'agujero' in its figurative financial sense?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
aguja(needle) — Noun
agujerear(to pierce/to make a hole) — Verb
agujetas(soreness (muscles)) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the older Spanish word 'aguja' (needle). When you make a hole with a needle, you create an 'agujero'. Over time, the word grew to mean any kind of opening or void.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: aguleiro

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Frequently Asked Questions

¿Es 'agujero' la única palabra para 'hole' en español?

No. 'Agujero' means a physical hole or opening (like in a sock or wall), but you might also hear 'hoyo' (for a pit in the ground) or 'hueco' (for an empty space or cavity).

Can I use 'agujero' for a 'black hole' in space?

Yes, the term for a black hole is 'agujero negro' (literally, black hole). This is a perfect example of its usage.