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ametralladora

ah-meh-trah-yah-DOH-rah/ametɾaʝaˈðoɾa/

“ametralladora” means “machine gun” in Spanish (military weapon).

machine gun

Also: rapid-fire
NounfB2
General
A simple illustration of a heavy military machine gun mounted on a tripod.

📝 In Action

Los soldados están entrenando con la ametralladora.

A2

The soldiers are training with the machine gun.

Ese museo tiene una ametralladora muy antigua del siglo pasado.

B1

That museum has a very old machine gun from the last century.

Ella habla tan rápido que parece una ametralladora.

B2

She speaks so fast that she sounds like a machine gun.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • metralleta (submachine gun)

Antonyms

  • pistola (handgun (contrasting size/speed))

Common Collocations

  • ametralladora ligera – light machine gun
  • nido de ametralladoras – machine gun nest
  • fuego de ametralladora – machine gun fire

Idioms & Expressions

  • hablar como una ametralladora – To talk extremely fast without pausing.

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "ametralladora" in Spanish:

machine gun→rapid-fire→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: ametralladora

Question 1 of 3

What does the ending '-adora' usually suggest about a word in Spanish?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
ametrallar(to shoot with a machine gun) — Verb
metralla(shrapnel) — Noun
ametrallamiento(the act of machine-gunning) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Derived from the word 'metralla' (meaning shrapnel or grapeshot), which comes from the French word 'mitraille.'

First recorded: 19th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: mitrailleusePortuguese: metralhadora

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is an 'ametralladora' the same as a 'metralleta'?

Technically, an ametralladora is a large, heavy machine gun, while a metralleta is a smaller submachine gun. However, in casual conversation, many people use both words to mean any fast-firing gun.

How can I remember that this word is feminine?

Think of other household machines that end in -adora, like 'lavadora' (washing machine). They are all feminine!

Can I use this word to describe things other than weapons?

Yes! It is often used figuratively to describe a 'rapid-fire' delivery of things, such as questions, ideas, or words.