Inklingo

daga

DAH-gahˈdaɣa

daga means dagger in Spanish (a short, pointed weapon with two sharp edges).

dagger

Also: dirk
NounfB1
A small, ornate dagger with a double-edged steel blade and a gold handle resting on a wooden table.

📝 In Action

El museo exhibe una daga de oro del siglo quince.

B1

The museum is displaying a gold dagger from the fifteenth century.

Escondió la daga bajo su capa antes de entrar al castillo.

B2

He hid the dagger under his cloak before entering the castle.

Sus palabras frías fueron como una daga en mi espalda.

C1

Her cold words were like a dagger in my back.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • puñal (dagger/stabbing knife)
  • estilete (stiletto/small blade)

Antonyms

  • espada (sword (the larger version))
  • escudo (shield (the defensive counterpart))

Common Collocations

  • desenvainar una dagato unsheathe a dagger
  • clavar una dagato stab or plunge a dagger

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser una daga de doble filosomething that has both positive and negative consequences

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "daga" in Spanish:

daggerdirk

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: daga

Question 1 of 1

If you are setting the dinner table, should you put a 'daga' next to the plate?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
puñal(dagger)Noun
puñalada(stab wound)Noun
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

Comes from the Old French word 'dague', which referred to a short sword. The word entered Spanish hundreds of years ago to describe the same type of weapon.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: daggerFrench: dagueItalian: daga

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is a 'daga' different from a 'puñal'?

Technically, a 'daga' usually has two sharp edges and a 'puñal' might only have one, but most Spanish speakers use both words to mean 'dagger' without worrying about the difference.

Is this word used in modern Spain or Latin America?

It is understood everywhere, but you'll mostly hear it in movies, video games, or when visiting historical museums rather than in the grocery store!