Inklingo
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mecánico

/meh-KAH-nee-koh/

mechanic

A smiling person dressed in blue overalls and a baseball cap, representing a mechanic, is tightening a large bolt on a metallic engine using a silver wrench.

A mechanic, or mecánico, is a person who repairs machines.

mecánico(noun)

mA1

mechanic

?

person who repairs machines

Also:

engineer

?

in some technical fields, e.g., 'mecánico automotriz'

📝 In Action

Mi coche se averió y tuve que llamar a un mecánico.

A1

My car broke down and I had to call a mechanic.

El mecánico del taller me dijo que la reparación sería costosa.

A2

The mechanic at the workshop told me the repair would be expensive.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • técnico (technician)
  • reparador (repairman)

Common Collocations

  • mecánico automotriz – car mechanic
  • taller mecánico – mechanic's workshop

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Change for Professions

To talk about a woman doing this job, the word changes to 'mecánica' (the female mechanic). The article also changes: 'la mecánica'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Using the Workshop

When you need to take your car to the place where mechanics work, you say 'el taller mecánico' or just 'el taller'.

A close-up illustration of three interlocking, shiny brass gears positioned against a soft, solid background, emphasizing their mechanical relationship.

Something that is mecánico (mechanical) relates to machines or machinery, like these gears.

mecánico(adjective)

mB1

mechanical

?

relating to machines or machinery

Also:

automatic

?

done without thought

,

motorized

?

driven by a motor

📝 In Action

Necesitamos revisar el sistema mecánico del elevador.

B1

We need to check the mechanical system of the elevator.

Su saludo fue un acto mecánico, sin emoción.

B2

His greeting was a mechanical act, without emotion.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • automatizado (automated)
  • maquinal (automatic (figurative))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • brazo mecánico – mechanical arm
  • falla mecánica – mechanical failure

💡 Grammar Points

Agreement with Nouns

As an adjective, 'mecánico' must match the thing it describes in number and gender: 'una falla mecánica' (a mechanical failure, feminine) or 'los problemas mecánicos' (the mechanical problems, plural).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting the Gender Change

Mistake: "El brazo mecánica."

Correction: El brazo mecánico. The adjective must end in -o because 'brazo' is masculine.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: mecánico

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'mecánico' as a profession?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

mecánica(mechanics (the field of study)) - noun
mecanismo(mechanism) - noun
mecanizar(to mechanize) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'mecánico' and 'mecánica'?

'Mecánico' (masculine) refers to the male professional or describes a masculine noun (e.g., 'motor mecánico'). 'Mecánica' (feminine) refers to the female professional or describes a feminine noun (e.g., 'falla mecánica'). It is also the name of the field of study, 'mechanics'.