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gatillo

gah-TEE-yo/ɡaˈtiʝo/

trigger

Also: release lever, spray handle
NounmA2
A close-up view of a metallic, curved lever trigger mechanism, designed to be pulled by a finger.

📝 In Action

No pongas el dedo en el gatillo a menos que vayas a disparar.

B1

Don't put your finger on the trigger unless you are going to shoot.

El gatillo de esta pistola de agua está roto.

A2

The trigger on this water gun is broken.

Hay que apretar el gatillo de la bomba para que salga el jabón.

B1

You have to squeeze the pump's lever for the soap to come out.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • detonador (detonator)
  • palanca (lever)

Common Collocations

  • apretar el gatillo – to pull/squeeze the trigger
  • soltar el gatillo – to release the trigger

trigger (figurative)

Also: catalyst
NounmB2
A single, large domino tile falling and making contact with the first domino in a long line of standing dominoes, initiating a chain reaction.

📝 In Action

La caída de la bolsa fue el gatillo para la crisis económica.

C1

The stock market crash was the trigger for the economic crisis.

Después de meses de dudas, por fin apretó el gatillo y compró la casa.

B2

After months of doubting, he finally pulled the trigger (made the final decision) and bought the house.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • desencadenante (trigger/cause)
  • impulso (impetus)

Idioms & Expressions

  • apretar el gatillo – To make the final, irreversible decision or commit to a risky action.

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "gatillo" in Spanish:

catalyst→release lever→spray handle→trigger→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: gatillo

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'gatillo' in its figurative meaning?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
gato(cat / jack (tool)) — Noun
gatazo(big cat / surprise trick) — Noun
engatillar(to cock (a gun)) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

A diminutive form of the word *gato* (cat). It is believed that early gun mechanisms had parts that moved like a cat's paw or claw, or perhaps the mechanism was small and nimble like a cat.

First recorded: 16th century (in the context of firearms)

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: gatilho

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'gatillo' have anything to do with the word 'gato' (cat)?

Yes! 'Gatillo' is the diminutive form of 'gato'. It means 'little cat'. The name stuck because the mechanism that activates a weapon was thought to resemble the quick, small movement of a cat's paw or claw.

How do I say 'pull the trigger' when I mean 'make the final decision'?

The phrase is 'apretar el gatillo'. It is used exactly like the English idiom to describe making a risky or definitive commitment.