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garra

GAH-rrah/ˈɡara/

“garra” means “claw” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

claw

Also: talon
NounfA2
A close-up illustration of a powerful tiger's paw with sharp, curved claws extended.

📝 In Action

El gato sacó sus garras cuando vio al perro.

A1

The cat took out its claws when it saw the dog.

El águila atrapó al pez con sus garras.

A2

The eagle caught the fish with its talons.

Ten cuidado, ese oso tiene garras muy grandes.

A2

Be careful, that bear has very big claws.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • sacar las garras – to show one's claws (defend oneself)
  • caer en las garras de – to fall into the clutches of

Idioms & Expressions

  • sacar las garras – To defend yourself aggressively or show a tough side when threatened.

grit, clout

Also: guts
NounfB2informal
Mexico
A small, determined ant pushing a large, heavy red apple up a steep hill.

📝 In Action

Ese jugador tiene mucha garra y nunca se rinde.

B1

That player has a lot of grit and never gives up.

Necesitamos jugar con más garra si queremos ganar.

B2

We need to play with more drive if we want to win.

Admiro la garra de esa mujer para sacar adelante a su familia.

C1

I admire that woman's strength of character to provide for her family.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • coraje (courage)
  • determinación (determination)
  • ímpetu (momentum/drive)

Antonyms

  • cobardía (cowardice)
  • apatía (apathy)

Common Collocations

  • echarle garra – to put effort into something
  • tener garra – to have grit/determination

Vocabulary Collections

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "garra" in Spanish:

claw→clout→grit→guts→talon→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: garra

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence uses 'garra' in a literal way?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Likely from a pre-Roman substrate or Celtic origin, originally meaning 'leg' or 'hook,' which evolved into the sharp claw of an animal.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: garraCatalan: garra

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'garra' the same as 'uña'?

Not exactly. 'Uña' is the general word for nail (like on a human finger). 'Garra' is specifically a sharp claw of a predator like a lion, cat, or eagle.

Can I use 'garra' for a person's personality?

Yes! In a positive way, it means they have grit, determination, and a 'never-say-die' attitude.

Is it 'el garra' or 'la garra'?

It is always 'la garra' because it is a feminine noun.