📝 In Action
Necesito un jack para cambiar la llanta del coche.
B2I need a jack to change the car's tire.
El mecánico usó un jack hidráulico para levantar el vehículo.
C1The mechanic used a hydraulic jack to lift the vehicle.
💡 Grammar Points
A Borrowed Word
'Jack' is a word taken directly from English, so it keeps its masculine form ('el jack') and is used for specific technical items.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Jack' Instead of 'Gato'
Mistake: "Pásame el jack, por favor."
Correction: Pásame el gato, por favor. In everyday Spanish, 'gato' is the standard word for a car jack. Using 'jack' sounds very technical or foreign.
⭐ Usage Tips
When to Use 'Jack' vs. 'Gato'
Think of 'jack' as technical jargon you'd hear in a garage. In almost every other situation, 'gato' is the word everyone uses and understands for a car jack.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: jack
Question 1 of 2
Your friend is trying to connect his new headphones to his phone. He asks you: '¿Dónde está el ______ para los auriculares?' Which word fits best?
📚 More Resources
Word Origin
'Jack' is a direct borrowing from the English word 'jack'. Each of its meanings in Spanish corresponds to a specific meaning of the English word, adopted for technical or cultural reasons.
First recorded: 20th century
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'jack' a real Spanish word?
Yes and no. It's not a native Spanish word; it's an 'anglicismo,' a word borrowed directly from English. It is used and understood in specific contexts (like technology and mechanics), but Spanish often has its own native word that is more common in daily conversation (like 'gato' for a car jack).
How do I know which meaning of 'jack' is being used?
The context will always be your guide. If people are talking about cars, it's a lifting tool. If they're talking about music or computers, it's a connector. If they're playing cards, it's the card. The different situations are so distinct that it's rarely confusing.
So should I avoid using the word 'jack' in Spanish?
Not entirely! For audio/headphone connectors, 'jack' is very common and natural. For car jacks and playing cards, it's better to learn and use the standard Spanish words ('gato' and 'sota'/'jota') to sound more like a native speaker.