Inklingo
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hoyo

/OH-yoh/

hole

A simple, round indentation or pit dug into brown earth.

Hoyo referring to a simple depression or opening in the ground.

hoyo(noun)

mA1

hole

?

a depression or opening

,

pit

?

a large, deep hole

Also:

hollow

?

a depression in the land

,

crater

?

a large indentation

📝 In Action

Tuvimos que esquivar un hoyo enorme en la carretera.

A2

We had to swerve to avoid an enormous hole in the road (pothole).

El perro estaba cavando un hoyo para esconder su hueso.

A1

The dog was digging a hole to hide its bone.

Hay que tapar el hoyo antes de que alguien se caiga.

A2

We must cover the hole before someone falls in.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • agujero (hole (smaller, like a needle hole))
  • zanja (trench)

Common Collocations

  • hoyo profundo – deep hole
  • tapar un hoyo – to cover/fill a hole

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Check

Even though 'hoyo' ends in -o, remember it is a masculine word, so use 'el' (el hoyo) and masculine adjectives (un hoyo grande).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Hoyo vs. Agujero

Mistake: "Using 'hoyo' for a small hole, like a puncture."

Correction: Use 'agujero' for small holes (like in paper or clothes). 'Hoyo' is typically reserved for holes in the ground or large depressions.

⭐ Usage Tips

Pothole Terminology

In many Spanish-speaking regions, a 'pothole' (a hole in the road) is frequently referred to simply as 'un hoyo'.

A white golf ball resting inside the golf cup on a bright green putting green, marked by a flagstick.

In golf, hoyo refers to the target cup.

hoyo(noun)

mB1

hole

?

in golf (the target cup or the entire playing area)

Also:

green

?

sometimes used when referring to the immediate area around the cup

📝 In Action

Hizo un 'hole in one' en el hoyo 18.

B1

He got a 'hole in one' on the 18th hole.

Solo nos quedan tres hoyos para terminar el partido.

B1

We only have three holes left to finish the game.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • hoyo de golf – golf hole
  • terminar el hoyo – to finish the hole

⭐ Usage Tips

Sport Specific

When talking about golf, 'hoyo' refers both to the small cup in the ground and the entire segment of the course (from tee to cup).

A small, empty, overturned wallet with a single coin rolling away, symbolizing lack of money.

Hoyo can also mean 'deficit' or a financial shortage.

hoyo(noun)

mB2

deficit

?

financial shortage

,

mess

?

a difficult situation, often financial

Also:

gap

?

a noticeable lack of something

📝 In Action

La empresa está en un hoyo financiero muy profundo.

B2

The company is in a very deep financial hole (deficit).

Intentamos salir del hoyo después de la crisis.

C1

We tried to get out of the mess/hole after the crisis.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • déficit (deficit)
  • apuro (tight spot/fix)

Common Collocations

  • hoyo económico – economic hole/deficit
  • salir del hoyo – to get out of the hole/mess

💡 Grammar Points

Figurative Use

This meaning uses 'hoyo' metaphorically, comparing a bad situation, especially one related to money, to being physically trapped in a deep pit.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: hoyo

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'hoyo' in its figurative sense?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

hoyuelo(dimple (small hole)) - noun
ahoyar(to dig holes) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

How is 'hoyo' different from 'agujero'?

'Hoyo' usually means a large depression or pit, especially in the ground (like a pothole or a hole you dig). 'Agujero' means a smaller hole, often one that goes completely through something, like a hole in cloth or a wall.

Is 'hoyo' used for the golf course itself?

Yes. In golf, 'hoyo' can refer to the small cup where the ball lands, or the entire segment of the course—the 18th hole, for example.