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baúl

bah-OOL/baˈul/

“baúl” means “trunk” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

trunk

Also: chest, footlocker
NounmA2
A large, antique wooden chest with metal straps and a rounded lid.

📝 In Action

Mi abuela guarda fotos viejas en un baúl de madera.

A2

My grandmother keeps old photos in a wooden trunk.

Abrimos el baúl para ver qué había dentro.

B1

We opened the chest to see what was inside.

Word Connections

Synonyms

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

trunk

Also: boot
NounmB1
ArgentinaUruguayColombia
The open storage compartment at the back of a blue sedan car.

📝 In Action

Pon las bolsas del súper en el baúl.

B1

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

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "baúl" in Spanish:

footlocker→

✏️ 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
🎵 Rhymes▼
azulSaúltahúr
📚 Etymology▼

From the Old French word 'bahut', which referred to a type of chest used for transport.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: bahutPortuguese: baú

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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.