Inklingo
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puño

/POO-nyo/

fist

A close-up illustration of a tightly closed human hand, forming a fist.

Puño, meaning "fist," shown as a tightly closed hand.

puño(noun)

mA1

fist

?

The closed hand

,

punch

?

A blow delivered with a closed hand

Also:

clenched hand

?

Describing the posture

📝 In Action

Cerró el puño con fuerza antes de golpear la mesa.

A2

He closed his fist tightly before hitting the table.

Le dio un puño suave en el hombro como saludo.

B1

He gave him a light punch on the shoulder as a greeting.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • cerrar el puño – to clench one's fist
  • abrir el puño – to open one's hand

Idioms & Expressions

  • luchar a puñetazos – to fight with fists

⭐ Usage Tips

Puño vs. Puñetazo

Use 'puño' to name the closed hand itself ('Tengo el puño cerrado'). Use 'puñetazo' when referring to the action or the specific blow ('Le dio un puñetazo').

A detailed illustration focusing on the buttoned cuff at the end of a blue dress shirt sleeve.

Puño can also mean "cuff," referring to the finished end of a garment's sleeve.

puño(noun)

mB1

cuff

?

The end of a sleeve

Also:

wristband

?

The fitted part of the sleeve

📝 In Action

El puño de la camisa se descosió y tuve que coserlo.

B1

The shirt cuff came unstitched and I had to sew it.

Esta chaqueta tiene unos puños muy elegantes.

B2

This jacket has very elegant cuffs.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • manga (sleeve)

Common Collocations

  • puño de la camisa – shirt cuff
  • puño de encaje – lace cuff/frill
A giant hand holding a miniature castle in its palm, symbolizing absolute control or domination.

Figuratively, puño means "control" or "absolute power," depicted here by a large hand dominating a small object.

puño(noun)

mB2

control

?

Figurative: absolute power or domination

,

handful

?

A small, contained quantity

Also:

grip

?

Figurative hold

📝 In Action

El presidente gobernaba con puño de hierro, sin aceptar críticas.

B2

The president governed with an iron fist, without accepting criticism.

Solo quedaba un puño de monedas en la caja.

C1

Only a handful of coins remained in the box.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • dominio (domination)
  • control (control)

Idioms & Expressions

  • puño de hierro – strict, harsh, or rigid control

⭐ Usage Tips

Figurative Use

When 'puño' means 'control' or 'power', it is almost always paired with 'de hierro' (iron) to emphasize the strictness or toughness of the control.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: puño

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'puño' to refer to a piece of clothing?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

puñetazo(punch (the action)) - noun
empuñar(to grasp, to grip (a weapon)) - verb
puñalada(stab (from a knife)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'puño' and 'puñetazo'?

'Puño' is the noun for the closed hand itself (the object). 'Puñetazo' is the noun for the action of hitting someone with a closed hand (a punch or blow). Think of 'puño' as 'fist' and 'puñetazo' as 'a punch'.

Does 'puño' always mean something aggressive?

No. While it often relates to hitting or anger ('cerrar el puño de rabia'), it can also be neutral, referring to the cuff of a shirt, or even positive when describing a firm, controlled grip.