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martillo

mar-TEE-yo/maɾˈtiʝo/

“martillo” means “hammer” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

hammer

Also: mallet
NounmA1
A simple, isolated claw hammer with a wooden handle and a metal head, ready for use.

📝 In Action

Pásame el martillo, por favor. Quiero colgar este cuadro.

A1

Pass me the hammer, please. I want to hang this picture.

El carpintero golpeó la madera con fuerza con su martillo.

A2

The carpenter struck the wood hard with his hammer.

Necesitas un martillo pequeño para trabajar en joyería.

B1

You need a small hammer to work in jewelry.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • mazo (mallet/sledgehammer)

Common Collocations

  • golpear con el martillo – to hit/strike with the hammer
  • cabeza del martillo – hammer head

Idioms & Expressions

  • dar martillazos – to hammer repeatedly/to pound

malleus

Also: hammer
NounmB2 formal
A highly simplified illustration of the malleus bone, also known as the hammer bone, from the human ear.

📝 In Action

El martillo es uno de los tres pequeños huesos del oído medio.

B2

The malleus is one of the three small bones in the middle ear.

El lanzamiento de martillo es una prueba olímpica de atletismo.

C1

The hammer throw is an Olympic athletics event.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • lanzamiento de martillo – hammer throw (sports event)

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "martillo" in Spanish:

hammer→mallet→malleus→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: martillo

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'martillo' in a specialized, non-tool context?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
martillear(to hammer) — Verb
martillazo(hammer blow/hit) — Noun
martillero(auctioneer (in some regions)) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word *martellus*, which also meant 'hammer' or 'mallet.' It has been in use in Spanish since the Middle Ages, referring to the essential tool.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: martelloFrench: marteau

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'martillo' used in any common Spanish idioms?

While less common today, 'estar a martillo y clavo' (to be at hammer and nail) is an old-fashioned way of saying something is 'under construction' or 'being built.' The derived noun 'martillazo' (a blow) is frequently used.

If I want to say 'sledgehammer,' should I still use 'martillo'?

No. While 'martillo' is the general word for hammer, for a large, heavy sledgehammer, Spanish speakers typically use 'mazo' or 'almádena' to distinguish the size and purpose.