pistola
“pistola” means “pistol” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
pistol, gun
📝 In Action
El policía sacó su pistola de la funda.
A2The police officer took his pistol out of the holster.
En las películas de vaqueros, siempre hay alguien con una pistola en el cinto.
B1In cowboy movies, there is always someone with a gun on their belt.
spray gun
Also: injection gun
📝 In Action
Necesitas la pistola de pintura para aplicar el esmalte de manera uniforme.
B1You need the spray gun to apply the enamel evenly.
El dentista usó una pequeña pistola de agua para limpiar el área.
B2The dentist used a small water syringe/jet to clean the area.
pain in the neck
Also: tough cookie
📝 In Action
¡Qué pistola eres! No paras de hablar de lo mismo.
C1You're such a pain! You won't stop talking about the same thing.
Esa abogada es una pistola, consiguió todo lo que pidió.
C2That lawyer is a real tough cookie; she got everything she asked for.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: pistola
Question 1 of 2
Which meaning of 'pistola' is most likely used when describing a dentist's tool?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Italian 'pistolese' or 'pistoia,' possibly referring to the city of Pistoia in Tuscany, which was famous for its gunsmiths and weapons manufacturing in the 16th century. It entered Spanish and French around the same time.
First recorded: 16th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'pistola' refer only to pistols, or can it mean any small gun?
While the literal translation is 'pistol,' in everyday conversation, especially when talking about crime or police work, it is often used as a general term for any small, handheld firearm (like 'gun').
Is 'pistola' ever used as a compliment?
Rarely. In some very specific informal contexts (like gaming or sports in certain regions) it might be used to describe someone who is aggressively good or dominant, which is a kind of compliment, but usually, it describes someone or something annoying or dangerous.