Inklingo
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hierro

/YAIR-roh/

iron

A heavy, dark gray rectangular block of raw metallic iron resting on a stone surface.

Hierro as the metal element or material.

hierro(noun)

mA1

iron

?

the metal element or material

Also:

steel

?

often used interchangeably in non-technical contexts for strong metal

,

ferrous metal

?

technical term for metals containing iron

📝 In Action

El puente antiguo está hecho de hierro forjado.

B1

The old bridge is made of wrought iron.

Necesitamos más hierro en nuestra dieta para estar saludables.

A2

We need more iron in our diet to be healthy.

El hierro es un metal muy resistente y pesado.

A1

Iron is a very resistant and heavy metal.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • hierro fundido – cast iron
  • mineral de hierro – iron ore

💡 Grammar Points

Always Masculine

Remember that 'hierro' is always a masculine noun, so it takes masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., 'el hierro', 'hierro viejo').

⭐ Usage Tips

Pronunciation Tip

The 'h' at the beginning of 'hierro' is silent. The word starts with a 'y' sound, like the 'ye' in 'yes'.

A classic, triangular household clothes iron with a handle, depicted resting on a piece of folded cloth.

Hierro as a common household clothes iron.

hierro(noun)

mB1

iron

?

clothes iron (short for 'plancha de hierro')

,

branding iron

?

tool for marking livestock

Also:

golf club

?

specifically, an iron club

,

fire poker

?

tool for tending a fire

📝 In Action

Voy a pasar el hierro a la ropa antes de salir.

B1

I am going to iron the clothes before leaving. (Literally: I am going to pass the iron over the clothes.)

El ganadero usó un hierro para marcar el ganado.

B2

The rancher used a branding iron to mark the cattle.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • plancha (iron (appliance))
  • marcador (marker (branding))

💡 Grammar Points

Using 'Hierro' for Ironing

In many contexts, 'hierro' stands in for the full phrase 'plancha de hierro' (clothes iron). If you are talking about smoothing clothes, 'plancha' is also very common.

A straight, silver medieval sword with a simple crossguard and handle, standing upright.

Hierro used poetically or historically to refer to a sword.

hierro(noun)

mC1

sword

?

historical/poetic term for a weapon

,

strength

?

figurative meaning of rigidity or willpower

Also:

courage

?

mental fortitude

📝 In Action

El caballero desenvainó su hierro y se preparó para la batalla.

C1

The knight unsheathed his sword (his iron) and prepared for battle.

Necesitas tener nervios de hierro para ser un buen negociador.

C2

You need to have nerves of steel (nerves of iron) to be a good negotiator.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • a hierro y fuego – with fire and sword (ruthlessly)

Idioms & Expressions

  • tener nervios de hierro – To have nerves of steel; to be very calm under pressure.
  • meter el hierro – To interfere or meddle aggressively.

⭐ Usage Tips

Use with Caution

Using 'hierro' to mean 'sword' is quite old-fashioned and poetic. Stick to 'espada' for everyday conversation.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: hierro

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'hierro' in its most common meaning?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

herrero(blacksmith) - noun
herrería(blacksmith shop/forge) - noun
férreo(iron (adjective), steely) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'hierro' pronounced with the 'H' sound?

No, the 'h' in 'hierro' is completely silent. It is pronounced like 'YAIR-roh.' The 'ie' combination sounds like the 'ye' in the English word 'yes'.

What is the difference between 'hierro' and 'acero'?

'Hierro' is pure iron (the element). 'Acero' means steel, which is an alloy—mostly iron mixed with carbon to make it even stronger and more versatile. In everyday conversation, they are sometimes used loosely, but 'acero' is technically stronger.