Inklingo
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palanca

/pah-LAHN-kah/

lever

A wooden plank resting on a small rock being used to lift a large heavy boulder.

A 'palanca' is a lever used to lift heavy objects.

palanca(noun)

fA2

lever

?

a tool used to lift or move objects

Also:

crowbar

?

a metal bar used for prying

,

handle

?

a long part of a machine you pull or push

📝 In Action

Necesitamos una palanca para mover esta piedra tan pesada.

A2

We need a lever to move this very heavy stone.

Tira de la palanca para activar la máquina.

B1

Pull the lever to activate the machine.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • barra (bar)
  • manivela (crank/handle)

Common Collocations

  • hacer palanca – to pry / to leverage

Idioms & Expressions

  • Dadme un punto de apoyo y moveré el mundo – Give me a place to stand and I shall move the earth (Famous Archimedes quote about levers)

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Check

Even though it ends in 'a', this word follows the standard rule and is feminine: 'la palanca'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Using 'Hacer Palanca'

Use 'hacer palanca' whenever you're talking about prying something open or using physical force with a tool to lift something.

A close up of a gear shift lever inside a car with a leather base.

In a car, the 'palanca' refers to the gear shift.

palanca(noun)

fB1

gear shift

?

the lever in a car used to change gears

Also:

joystick

?

a controller used for games or aviation

📝 In Action

Mueve la palanca de cambios a punto muerto.

B1

Move the gear shift to neutral.

El piloto controla el avión con la palanca de mando.

B2

The pilot controls the plane with the control stick (joystick).

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • palanca de cambios – gear stick / gear shift
  • palanca de mando – joystick / control column

⭐ Usage Tips

In the Car

While 'palanca' alone is okay, most people specify 'palanca de cambios' when talking about manual cars.

A person standing on a tall platform reaching down to help another person up to their level.

Metaphorically, 'palanca' can mean having the clout or influence to help someone succeed.

palanca(noun)

fB2

clout

?

social or professional influence

Also:

pull

?

having 'connections' to get something done

,

influence

?

power to affect decisions

📝 In Action

Entró en esa empresa porque tiene mucha palanca.

B2

He got into that company because he has a lot of pull/connections.

Sin palanca es difícil conseguir los permisos rápido.

C1

Without influence, it is hard to get the permits quickly.

Word Connections

Synonyms

❌ Common Pitfalls

Palanca vs. Enchufe

Mistake: "Using 'enchufe' in Mexico to mean influence."

Correction: Use 'palanca' in Latin America for more natural-sounding slang.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: palanca

Question 1 of 1

If someone says they got a job 'por palanca', what do they mean?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

apalancar(to leverage / to pry) - verb
palancada(a stroke or blow with a lever) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'palanca' mean a joystick for video games?

Yes! Specifically 'palanca de mando'. While younger gamers might use the English word 'joystick', 'palanca' is the traditional and correct Spanish term for that type of controller.

Is 'palanca' a rude word?

No, it is not rude. When used to mean 'influence', it is informal/slang, but it isn't a swear word or offensive.