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control

kon-trolkonˈtɾol

control

Also: power, mastery
NounmB1
A giant, powerful human hand gently but firmly holding and directing a small, colorful wooden toy block, symbolizing power and command.

📝 In Action

El nuevo gerente tiene el control total del proyecto.

B1

The new manager has total control of the project.

Es importante mantener el control en situaciones de estrés.

B1

It's important to maintain control in stressful situations.

Perdió el control del coche en el hielo.

A2

He lost control of the car on the ice.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • descontrol (lack of control)

Common Collocations

  • bajo control – under control
  • perder el control – to lose control
  • tomar el control – to take control

Idioms & Expressions

  • tenerlo todo bajo control – to have everything under control, to be on top of things

check, inspection

Also: checkpoint, check-up
NounmA2
A friendly security officer in uniform using a simple handheld scanner to inspect a traveler's brightly colored suitcase at a stylized airport checkpoint.

📝 In Action

Tengo que pasar por el control de seguridad en el aeropuerto.

A2

I have to go through the security check at the airport.

La policía montó un control en la carretera.

B1

The police set up a checkpoint on the highway.

El médico me recomendó un control anual.

B1

The doctor recommended an annual check-up.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • inspección (inspection)
  • revisión (review, check)
  • verificación (verification)

Common Collocations

  • control de pasaportes – passport control
  • control de aduanas – customs check
  • control de calidad – quality control

remote control

Also: remote
NounmA2informal
SpainLatin America
A simple, gray, rectangular remote control device with three large, colorful buttons resting on a plush sofa cushion.

📝 In Action

¿Me pasas el control de la tele, por favor?

A2

Can you pass me the TV remote, please?

No encuentro el control del aire acondicionado.

A2

I can't find the remote for the air conditioning.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • mando a distancia (remote control (common in Spain))
  • control remoto (remote control (more formal))

Common Collocations

  • el control de la tele – the TV remote
  • el control del estéreo – the stereo remote

controls

Also: dial, knob
NounmB1
A stylized machine control panel featuring a large red lever, two rotary dials, and several toggle switches.

📝 In Action

El piloto revisó los controles antes de despegar.

B2

The pilot checked the controls before taking off.

El control de volumen está en el lado derecho del altavoz.

A2

The volume control is on the right side of the speaker.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • mandos (controls)

Common Collocations

  • panel de control – control panel
  • control de crucero – cruise control
  • control de temperatura – temperature control

Translate to Spanish

✏️ 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

👥 Word Family▼
controlar(to control) — Verb
controlador(controller) — Noun
descontrol(lack of control, chaos) — Noun
incontrolable(uncontrollable) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word 'control' comes from the French 'contrôle', which itself came from the medieval Latin 'contrarotulus'. This literally meant 'counter-roll' or 'counter-register'—a second list used to check the accuracy of the main one. So, from the very beginning, it was about checking and verification!

First recorded: 18th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: controlFrench: contrôleItalian: controllo

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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'.