grúa
“grúa” means “tow truck” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
tow truck
Also: breakdown truck
📝 In Action
Llamé a la grúa porque mi coche se rompió.
A2I called the tow truck because my car broke down.
Ten cuidado, si aparcas ahí se lo llevará la grúa.
B1Be careful, if you park there the tow truck will take it away.
El servicio de grúa está incluido en mi seguro.
B1The towing service is included in my insurance.
crane
Also: hoist, camera crane
📝 In Action
Hay una grúa enorme en la construcción del edificio.
A2There is a huge crane at the building construction site.
Usaron una grúa para mover el contenedor en el puerto.
B1They used a crane to move the container at the port.
El director quiere una toma con grúa para esta escena.
B2The director wants a crane shot for this scene.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: grúa
Question 1 of 3
If your car breaks down in the middle of the highway, what do you call?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'grus', which refers to the crane bird. The machine was named after the bird because its long lifting arm resembles the bird's long neck.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'grúa' used for the bird crane as well?
No. In Spanish, the bird is called a 'grulla'. The machine is a 'grúa'.
What is a 'gruista'?
A 'gruista' is the professional person who operates any type of crane, whether it's a tow truck or a construction crane.
If the police tow my car, do I say 'policía' or 'grúa'?
While the police order it, most people will say 'se lo llevó la grúa' (the tow truck took it).