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fusil

foo-SEEL/fuˈsil/

“fusil” means “rifle” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

rifle

Also: gun, speargun
NounmB1
General
A classic long-barreled rifle resting against a wooden fence.

📝 In Action

El soldado limpiaba su fusil con mucho cuidado.

B1

The soldier cleaned his rifle very carefully.

Es un fusil de asalto de última generación.

B2

It is a state-of-the-art assault rifle.

Para pescar en estas aguas necesitas un fusil de pesca submarina.

C1

To fish in these waters, you need an underwater speargun.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • carabina (carbine)
  • arma (weapon)

Common Collocations

  • fusil de asalto – assault rifle
  • al hombro – on the shoulder (carried)
  • fusil de precisión – sniper rifle

rip-off

Also: plagiarism, copy
NounmC1informal
MexicoSpain
Two identical paintings of a simple red flower sitting side-by-side on easels.

📝 In Action

Esa canción es un fusil descarado de un éxito de los 80.

C1

That song is a blatant rip-off of an 80s hit.

Su guion resultó ser un fusil de una película francesa.

C2

His script turned out to be a copy of a French movie.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • plagio (plagiarism)
  • copia (copy)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • un fusil descarado – a blatant rip-off

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "fusil" in Spanish:

copy→gun→plagiarism→rifle→rip-off→speargun→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: fusil

Question 1 of 3

What is the plural form of 'el fusil'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
fusilar(to shoot/to copy) — Verb
fusilamiento(execution by firing squad) — Noun
fusilería(riflery/fusillade) — Noun
fusilazo(rifle shot) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the French word 'fusil' (meaning the steel part of a flintlock that creates sparks), which came from the Latin 'focus', meaning 'hearth' or 'fire'.

First recorded: 17th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: fusilItalian: fucilePortuguese: fuzil

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'fusil' the same as a 'pistola'?

No. A 'fusil' is a long-barreled rifle held with two hands, while a 'pistola' is a short handgun held with one.

Can I use 'fusil' for a shotgun?

Strictly speaking, no. A shotgun is an 'escopeta'. A 'fusil' has different internal grooves in the barrel for accuracy.

Is the informal meaning 'rip-off' offensive?

It is not a swear word, but it is accusatory. It's safe to use with friends but could be seen as rude if said directly to an artist or student.