Inklingo
← Dictionary

gancho

/GAHN-cho/

hook

A curved metal hook hanging on a wooden wall.

In Spanish, 'gancho' can refer to a physical hook used for catching or holding objects.

gancho(noun)

mA2

hook

?

any curved tool for catching or holding

Also:

hanger

?

regional term for a clothes hanger

,

hairpin

?

regional term for a bobby pin

📝 In Action

Cuelga tu chaqueta en el gancho detrás de la puerta.

A2

Hang your jacket on the hook behind the door.

¿Tienes un gancho para colgar este vestido?

A2

Do you have a hanger to hang this dress?

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • percha (clothes hanger)
  • garfio (large metal hook)

Common Collocations

  • gancho de ropa – clothes hanger
  • gancho de carnicero – butcher's hook

💡 Grammar Points

A standard 'O' noun

Since it ends in -o, it is a masculine naming word. Use 'el' or 'un' with it.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Hanger vs. Hook

Mistake: "Using 'percha' in Mexico to mean a hook."

Correction: While 'percha' is common in Spain for a hanger, many Latin American countries prefer 'gancho' for both a wall hook and a clothes hanger.

⭐ Usage Tips

Traveler's Tip

If you are in a hotel in Mexico or Colombia and need more hangers, ask for 'ganchos'!

A professional boxer wearing red gloves performing a powerful side punch.

The word 'gancho' is also used in boxing to describe a hook punch.

gancho(noun)

mB2

hook

?

an attractive quality or a boxing punch

Also:

lure

?

something used to attract customers

,

charisma

?

personal appeal

📝 In Action

Ese anuncio no tiene mucho gancho.

B2

That advertisement doesn't have much of a hook (appeal).

El boxeador ganó la pelea con un gancho al hígado.

B2

The boxer won the fight with a hook to the liver.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • atractivo (appeal/attraction)
  • señuelo (decoy/lure)

Common Collocations

  • tener gancho – to be catchy or charismatic
  • gancho izquierdo – left hook (boxing)

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser un gancho – to be a person used to trick others into a deal

💡 Grammar Points

Abstract Use

When used for 'appeal,' it works just like 'charm' in English. You can say someone or something 'has' it (tiene gancho).

⭐ Usage Tips

Marketing Speak

In business, a 'precio gancho' is a 'hook price'—a very low price used to get you into the store.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: gancho

Question 1 of 1

If someone says a movie 'tiene mucho gancho,' what do they mean?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

enganchar(to hook / to get hooked on) - verb
ganchillo(crochet) - noun
desenganchar(to unhook) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'gancho' the same as 'percha'?

In Spain, 'percha' is the standard word for a clothes hanger. However, in most of Latin America, 'gancho' is used for both a wall hook and a clothes hanger.

How do I say 'crochet' in Spanish?

You use the word 'ganchillo,' which literally means 'little hook'!