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grifo

GREE-fo/ˈɡɾifo/

faucet, tap

Also: spout
NounmA2
ArgentinaMexico
A shiny silver water faucet with a single drop of water falling from the spout.

📝 In Action

Por favor, cierra el grifo cuando te laves los dientes.

A2

Please, turn off the faucet when you brush your teeth.

El grifo de la cocina gotea y hace mucho ruido.

B1

The kitchen tap is dripping and making a lot of noise.

En esta ciudad, el agua del grifo es potable y muy rica.

B1

In this city, the tap water is safe to drink and very tasty.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • llave (tap/key)
  • canilla (tap (Argentina/Uruguay))

Common Collocations

  • abrir el grifo – to turn on the tap
  • cerrar el grifo – to turn off the tap
  • agua del grifo – tap water

Idioms & Expressions

  • cerrar el grifo – To stop providing money or resources to someone.

gas station

Also: filling station
NounmB2
Peru
A colorful gas pump with a black hose and nozzle.

📝 In Action

Tenemos que parar en el próximo grifo para cargar gasolina.

B1

We have to stop at the next gas station to get gas.

Hay un grifo abierto las veinticuatro horas cerca de aquí.

B2

There is a gas station open twenty-four hours near here.

El grifo estaba lleno de autos esta mañana.

B2

The gas station was full of cars this morning.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • gasolinera (gas station)
  • estación de servicio (service station)

Common Collocations

  • grifo de gasolina – gas station

griffin

NounmC1
A mythical griffin with the body of a golden lion and the wings and head of a brown eagle.

📝 In Action

El grifo es una criatura mitológica muy poderosa.

C1

The griffin is a very powerful mythological creature.

En la fachada de la catedral hay una estatua de un grifo.

C2

On the cathedral's facade, there is a statue of a griffin.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • grifo mitológico – mythological griffin

frizzy, kinky

AdjectivemC1informal
Mexico
A person with very messy, frizzy, and voluminous hair standing out in all directions.

📝 In Action

Hoy hay mucha humedad y tengo el pelo todo grifo.

B2

It's very humid today and my hair is all frizzy.

Se despertó con el cabello grifo después de dormir tanto.

C1

He woke up with messy hair after sleeping so much.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • encrespado (frizzy)
  • alborotado (messy/disheveled)

Antonyms

  • lacio (straight (hair))

Common Collocations

  • pelo grifo – frizzy/messy hair

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "grifo" in Spanish:

frizzy→griffin→kinky→spout→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: grifo

Question 1 of 3

If you are in Peru and your car is out of gas, what should you look for?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
grifería(taps/fixtures) — Noun
grifito(little faucet) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
rifotifo
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'gryphus,' which refers to the mythological griffin. The word was later used for water taps because they were frequently decorated with the heads of these creatures.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: griffinItalian: grifone

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'grifo' and 'llave'?

'Grifo' is the technical and standard word for the faucet fixture, especially in Spain. 'Llave' (literally 'key') is used in many Latin American countries to mean the same thing.

Is 'grifo' used for gas stations everywhere?

No, it is primarily used in Peru and Bolivia. In other countries, you should use 'gasolinera' or 'estación de servicio'.

Does 'grifo' have a negative meaning?

In some informal contexts and slang, especially in Mexico, 'grifo' can mean someone is high or stoned. Context will make the meaning clear!