control
/kon-trol/
control
El control (control) means having power or command over a situation or object.
control(Noun)
control
?power, command
power
?influence over a situation
,mastery
?command of a skill
📝 In Action
El nuevo gerente tiene el control total del proyecto.
B1The new manager has total control of the project.
Es importante mantener el control en situaciones de estrés.
B1It's important to maintain control in stressful situations.
Perdió el control del coche en el hielo.
A2He lost control of the car on the ice.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Masculine
Even though it doesn't end in -o, 'control' is a masculine word. Always say 'el control' or 'un control', not 'la control'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Key Phrases
The phrases 'tomar el control' (to take control), 'perder el control' (to lose control), and 'bajo control' (under control) are incredibly useful and sound very natural.
Use control to refer to a security check, inspection, or checkpoint, like at an airport (control de seguridad).
control(Noun)
check
?an inspection or verification
,inspection
?a formal examination
checkpoint
?a place for inspection
,check-up
?medical examination
📝 In Action
Tengo que pasar por el control de seguridad en el aeropuerto.
A2I have to go through the security check at the airport.
La policía montó un control en la carretera.
B1The police set up a checkpoint on the highway.
El médico me recomendó un control anual.
B1The doctor recommended an annual check-up.
⭐ Usage Tips
Think 'Checking Point'
When you see 'control' in a place like an airport, border, or on a road, it almost always means a place where things or people are checked.
In Latin America, el control is the common word for the remote control used for a television or stereo.
📝 In Action
¿Me pasas el control de la tele, por favor?
A2Can you pass me the TV remote, please?
No encuentro el control del aire acondicionado.
A2I can't find the remote for the air conditioning.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Remoto'
Mistake: "Pásame el remoto."
Correction: Pásame el control. While 'control remoto' is the full name, people almost always shorten it to just 'control', especially in Latin America. Using just 'remoto' is less common.
Los controles can refer to the dials, switches, and levers used to operate a vehicle or machine.
control(Noun)
controls
?levers, dials, buttons of a machine
dial
?for volume, temperature
,knob
?a specific type of control
📝 In Action
El piloto revisó los controles antes de despegar.
B2The pilot checked the controls before taking off.
El control de volumen está en el lado derecho del altavoz.
A2The volume control is on the right side of the speaker.
💡 Grammar Points
Singular vs. Plural
You can use 'el control' for a single knob or function (like 'el control de volumen') or 'los controles' for the entire set of controls on a machine (like 'los controles del coche').
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: control
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'control' to refer to a physical object you can hold in your hand?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'control' and 'mando'?
They can both mean 'control' or 'command'. When talking about a TV remote, 'control' is very common in Latin America, while 'mando' (or 'mando a distancia') is what you'll usually hear in Spain. For the controls of a machine, they are often interchangeable.
Is 'control' a verb?
No, 'control' itself is a noun. The verb is 'controlar'. For example, you would say 'Yo necesito controlar la situación' (I need to control the situation), not 'Yo necesito control la situación'.