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ladrillo

lah-DREE-yoh/laˈðɾiʝo/

“ladrillo” means “brick” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

brick

Also: block
NounmA1
General
A single red clay brick with three holes on top resting on a clean surface.

📝 In Action

La casa está construida con ladrillo rojo.

A1

The house is built with red brick.

El muro de ladrillo es muy resistente.

A2

The brick wall is very strong.

Los obreros están colocando los ladrillos uno por uno.

B1

The workers are placing the bricks one by one.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • bloque (block)
  • adobe (mud brick)

Common Collocations

  • ladrillo visto – exposed brick
  • muro de ladrillo – brick wall
  • horno de ladrillo – brick oven

Idioms & Expressions

  • poner el primer ladrillo – to start a large project or foundation

bore

Also: heavy going, drag
NounmB2informal
Spain
A person sitting on a chair looking very tired and yawning while looking at a very thick, heavy book.

📝 In Action

Ese libro de historia es un ladrillo.

B1

That history book is a real bore (heavy going).

La conferencia fue un ladrillo y me quedé dormido.

B2

The lecture was a total drag and I fell asleep.

No veas esa película, es un ladrillo de tres horas.

C1

Don't watch that movie; it's a three-hour bore.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tostón (a bore)
  • pesado (heavy/annoying)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ser un ladrillo – to be very boring
  • vaya ladrillo – what a bore

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "ladrillo" in Spanish:

block→bore→brick→drag→heavy going→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: ladrillo

Question 1 of 3

If someone says a movie is 'un ladrillo', they mean it is...

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
ladrillazo(a blow with a brick) — Noun
enladrillar(to pave with bricks) — Verb
ladrillería(brick factory/brickyard) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the old Spanish word 'ladre,' which comes from the Latin 'later' meaning 'brick.' The '-illo' ending was originally a way to make the word sound smaller or more common.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: ladrilho

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'ladrillo' for the tiles in my bathroom?

No, 'ladrillo' is only for construction bricks. For floor or wall tiles, use 'azulejo' or 'baldosa'.

Is 'ladrillo' a rude word when meaning 'boring'?

Not rude, just informal. You can use it with friends, but maybe not in a professional critique of a boss's presentation!

Does 'ladrillo' ever change to 'ladrilla'?

No, 'ladrillo' is a masculine noun and stays that way regardless of what it describes.