baúl

/bah-OOL/

trunk

A large, antique wooden chest with metal straps and a rounded lid.

A 'baúl' can refer to a large chest or trunk used for storing belongings or for travel.

baúl(noun)

mA2

trunk

storage or travel chest

Also:

chest

large furniture box

footlocker

military or school storage

📝 In Action

Mi abuela guarda fotos viejas en un baúl de madera.

My grandmother keeps old photos in a wooden trunk.

Abrimos el baúl para ver qué había dentro.

We opened the chest to see what was inside.

Word Connections

Synonyms

cofre (chest/coffer)
arca (ark/large chest)

Common Collocations

baúl de madera – wooden trunk
cerrar el baúl – to close the trunk

Idioms & Expressions

baúl de los recuerdos – a metaphor for memory or a place where old memories are kept
el baúl de la Piquer – used to describe someone who carries way too much luggage

💡 Grammar Points

The Accent Mark Rule

The 'ú' has an accent mark because it forces the 'a' and 'u' to be pronounced as two separate sounds instead of one smooth sound.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Missing the Accent

Mistake: "Writing 'baul' without the accent."

Correction: Always write 'baúl'. Without the accent, the pronunciation would change completely and sound like one syllable.

⭐ Usage Tips

When to use baúl vs cofre

Use 'baúl' for large storage boxes or travel trunks. Use 'cofre' for smaller, more decorative boxes, like a jewelry box or a pirate's treasure chest.

The open storage compartment at the back of a blue sedan car.

In many Spanish-speaking countries, 'baúl' is also the word for the trunk of a car.

baúl(noun)

mB1

trunk

storage compartment of a car

Also:

boot

British English for car trunk

📝 In Action

Pon las bolsas del súper en el baúl.

Put the grocery bags in the trunk.

Word Connections

Synonyms

maletero (trunk (Spain))
cajuela (trunk (Mexico))

Common Collocations

abrir el baúl – to open the trunk

💡 Grammar Points

Regional Vocabulary

The word for a car trunk changes depending on where you are. 'Baúl' is the favorite term in the Southern parts of South America.

⭐ Usage Tips

Traveling tip

If you are in Argentina, Uruguay, or Colombia, use 'baúl' for your car's storage. If you are in Mexico, use 'cajuela' to sound more local.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: baúl

Question 1 of 2

If you are in Argentina and you want to put your suitcases in the back of the car, where do you put them?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

baulito(little trunk) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'baúl' always have an accent?

Yes. The accent on the 'u' is necessary to show that the 'a' and 'u' are pronounced as two separate syllables (ba-úl). Without it, it would be pronounced 'baul' (one syllable), which is incorrect.

Is 'baúl' used for a treasure chest?

Usually, 'cofre' is used for a pirate's treasure chest, while 'baúl' is used for larger chests used for clothing or household storage.