arma
/AR-ma/
weapon
Arma (f): weapon. This is the noun form.
arma(Noun)
weapon
?General term for any object used for fighting or defense.
arm
?As in a branch of the military, e.g., 'the naval arm'.
,gun
?Often used as a general term for a firearm.
📝 In Action
El soldado llevaba un arma para protegerse.
A2The soldier carried a weapon to protect himself.
La policía encontró el arma del crimen en el parque.
B1The police found the murder weapon in the park.
Tener un arma de fuego requiere una licencia especial.
B2Having a firearm requires a special license.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'el arma' Rule
Even though 'arma' is a feminine word (meaning you'd say 'las armas' for plural), we use 'el' in the singular ('el arma'). This is just to make it sound better and avoid the two 'a' sounds running together in 'la arma'. This happens with other feminine words that start with a stressed 'a' sound, like 'agua' ('el agua').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'la' instead of 'el'
Mistake: "Vi la arma en la mesa."
Correction: Vi el arma en la mesa. Remember, for singular feminine nouns starting with a stressed 'a', we borrow 'el' to make it flow nicely. But if you add an adjective, it goes back to 'la'! For example: 'la potente arma' (the powerful weapon).
⭐ Usage Tips
Types of 'Armas'
Spanish often specifies the type of weapon. 'Arma de fuego' refers to guns (firearms), while 'arma blanca' refers to anything with a blade, like a knife or sword.
Arma (v): he/she/you (formal) assemble(s). This is the verb form of armar.
arma(Verb)
he/she/you (formal) assemble(s)
?Putting together furniture, a model, a puzzle.
he/she/you (formal) arm(s)
?Providing someone with weapons.
,he/she/you (formal) cause(s) / stir(s) up
?In phrases like 'armar un escándalo' (to cause a scandal).
📝 In Action
Mi papá siempre arma los muebles que compramos.
B1My dad always assembles the furniture we buy.
Ella arma un rompecabezas cada fin de semana.
B1She puts together a puzzle every weekend.
¡No me grites! No quiero que la gente piense que usted arma un escándalo.
B2Don't shout at me! I don't want people to think you're making a scene.
💡 Grammar Points
Not the Noun!
This 'arma' is a form of the verb 'armar'. It's the action word that means 'he assembles', 'she assembles', or 'you (formal) assemble'. You can tell by how it's used in a sentence with a person or thing doing the action.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Noun and Verb
Mistake: "El mueble arma bien. (The furniture assembles well.)"
Correction: El mueble se arma bien. (The furniture is assembled well / assembles well.) For things that are assembled, we often use 'se' before the verb.
⭐ Usage Tips
Beyond Assembling
Listen for the phrase 'armar un escándalo' or 'armar un lío'. It's a very common way to say someone is 'making a scene' or 'kicking up a fuss'. It's a bit more dramatic than just 'causing a problem'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: arma
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'arma' to mean a weapon?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do people say 'el arma' if 'arma' is a feminine word? Shouldn't it be 'la arma'?
Great question! This is a special rule in Spanish to make the language sound smoother. When a feminine word starts with a stressed 'a' sound (like in AR-ma), we use 'el' instead of 'la' in the singular form to avoid the two 'a' sounds clashing. But the word is still feminine! So in plural, it goes back to normal: 'las armas'.
How can I tell if 'arma' means 'weapon' or 'he/she assembles'?
Look at the words around it! If you see 'el' or 'un' before it (like 'el arma'), it's almost always the noun 'weapon'. If it comes after a person or thing (like 'Mi hermano arma...'), it's the verb 'assembles'. Context is your best friend!