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freno

FREH-noh/ˈfɾeno/

brake

Also: pedal
NounmA2
A close-up illustration of a bicycle brake pad gripping a metal wheel rim.

📝 In Action

Pisé el freno justo a tiempo.

A2

I stepped on the brake just in time.

Mi bicicleta tiene los frenos gastados.

A2

My bike has worn-out brakes.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • pedal (pedal)

Antonyms

  • acelerador (accelerator)

Common Collocations

  • pisar el freno – to step on the brake
  • freno de mano – handbrake / parking brake
  • freno de disco – disc brake

restraint, check

Also: curb, bit
NounmB2
A sturdy wooden fence preventing a group of colorful balls from rolling down a hill.

📝 In Action

No tiene freno cuando se pone a hablar.

B2

He has no restraint once he starts talking.

La ley sirvió como un freno a la corrupción.

C1

The law served as a check on corruption.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • límite (limit)
  • control (control)
  • obstáculo (obstacle)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • poner freno a – to put a stop to / to curb
  • sin freno – uncontrolled / without limits

Idioms & Expressions

  • morder el freno – To be restless or impatient to do something

I brake, I slow down

VerbA2regular ar
A person's foot in a sneaker pressing down firmly on a car's brake pedal.
gerundfrenando
past Participlefrenado
infinitivefrenar

📝 In Action

Yo siempre freno en las esquinas.

A2

I always brake at the corners.

Si veo un animal, freno de golpe.

B1

If I see an animal, I brake suddenly.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • parar (to stop)
  • detener (to halt)

Antonyms

  • acelerar (to accelerate)

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesfrenaran
yofrenara
túfrenaras
vosotrosfrenarais
nosotrosfrenáramos
él/ella/ustedfrenara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesfrenen
yofrene
túfrenes
vosotrosfrenéis
nosotrosfrenemos
él/ella/ustedfrene

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesfrenaron
yofrené
túfrenaste
vosotrosfrenasteis
nosotrosfrenamos
él/ella/ustedfrenó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesfrenaban
yofrenaba
túfrenabas
vosotrosfrenabais
nosotrosfrenábamos
él/ella/ustedfrenaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesfrenan
yofreno
túfrenas
vosotrosfrenáis
nosotrosfrenamos
él/ella/ustedfrena
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "freno" in Spanish:

bit→brake→check→curb→i brake→pedal→restraint→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: freno

Question 1 of 2

If your car isn't stopping and you need to use the pedal, which one do you press?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
frenar(to brake) — Verb
frenazo(sudden braking) — Noun
frenada(braking distance/track) — Noun
desenfrenado(unbridled / wild) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'frenum,' which referred to a horse's bridle or bit. As technology evolved, the word was applied to mechanical stopping systems in wagons, trains, and eventually cars.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: freioItalian: freno

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'freno' a verb or a noun?

It's both! As a noun, it means 'the brake' (the object). As a verb, it is the 'I' form of 'frenar,' meaning 'I brake' (the action).

How do you say 'handbrake' in Spanish?

You say 'freno de mano,' which literally translates to 'hand brake.'