polvo
/POHL-boh/
dust
The word "polvo" means dust, like the fine particles covering this surface.
polvo(Noun)
dust
?fine, scattered particles in the air or on surfaces
,powder
?finely ground substance (like flour, spices, or cosmetic powder)
dirt
?dust or grime (less common than 'dust')
📝 In Action
Necesitas limpiar el polvo de esa mesa.
A1You need to clean the dust off that table.
La receta pide una cucharada de polvo de hornear.
A2The recipe calls for a tablespoon of baking powder.
Después de la sequía, había mucho polvo en el camino.
B1After the drought, there was a lot of dust on the road.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Reminder
Even though many things that scatter or are fine particles are feminine (like la arena or la ceniza), polvo is always masculine: el polvo.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'Quitar'
The most common way to say 'to dust' is using the verb quitar (to remove): quitar el polvo. You can also use desempolvar.
In informal contexts, "polvo" is slang for a quick sexual encounter.
polvo(Noun)
quick sex
?sexual encounter (highly informal/slang)
,hookup
?casual sexual encounter
shag
?UK slang
📝 In Action
Dicen que él siempre va a las discotecas para echar un polvo.
B2They say he always goes to the clubs to hook up (have quick sex).
¿Conseguiste el polvo que querías?
C1Did you get the hookup you wanted?
❌ Common Pitfalls
Formality Trap
Mistake: "Usando la frase 'echar un polvo' en un contexto formal o de negocios."
Correction: This phrase is vulgar slang. Use words like *tener relaciones sexuales* or *hacer el amor* if you need to be professional or formal.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Everything
This meaning almost exclusively appears within the phrase echar un polvo. If you see el polvo alone, especially when talking about objects or the home, it almost certainly means 'dust' (Definition 1).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: polvo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'polvo' in its neutral, non-slang meaning?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Por qué es 'el polvo' si muchas palabras que terminan en -a o tienen una consistencia similar son femeninas?
Polvo is masculine (*el polvo*) because its root, the Latin word *pulvis*, was historically masculine or treated as such. In Spanish, it settled firmly as a masculine noun, unlike *la arena* (sand) or *la ceniza* (ash).
Is the slang meaning of 'polvo' used in all Spanish-speaking countries?
While *echar un polvo* is most common in Spain, the word *polvo* can have sexual connotations (often negative, like 'affair' or 'mess') in other regions, but the exact idiom might change. Always be aware that it has a strong, vulgar association in informal contexts.