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sable

SAH-bleh/ˈsa.βle/

saber, sabre

Also: sword
NounmB1
Spain/Latin America
A curved cavalry sword with a metallic blade and a golden hilt resting on a wooden surface.

📝 In Action

El oficial desenvainó su sable durante el desfile militar.

B2

The officer unsheathed his saber during the military parade.

En las clases de esgrima, aprendemos a usar el sable.

B1

In fencing classes, we learn how to use the saber.

El museo tiene una colección de sables antiguos del siglo XIX.

B1

The museum has a collection of ancient sabers from the 19th century.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • espada (sword)
  • cimitarra (scimitar)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • desenvainar el sable – to unsheathe the saber
  • golpe de sable – saber stroke
  • duelo de sables – saber duel

Idioms & Expressions

  • ruido de sables – a threat of military intervention or a coup
  • dar un sablazo – to ask someone for money or to overcharge someone

saberfish, cutlassfish

NounmC1
A long, thin silver fish with a sleek body swimming in blue water.

📝 In Action

El pez sable tiene un cuerpo muy largo y plateado.

C1

The saberfish has a very long and silvery body.

Comimos sable a la plancha en el restaurante del puerto.

C1

We ate grilled cutlassfish at the harbor restaurant.

Los pescadores atraparon varios sables esta mañana.

B2

The fishermen caught several saberfish this morning.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tajalí (cutlassfish)

Common Collocations

  • pez sable – saberfish
  • filete de sable – saberfish fillet

sable

NounmC2formal
A simple heraldic shield colored entirely in solid black.

📝 In Action

El escudo de la familia tiene un león de sable sobre fondo de oro.

C2

The family crest has a black lion on a gold background.

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "sable" in Spanish:

cutlassfish→saber→saberfish→sable→sabre→sword→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: sable

Question 1 of 3

If someone gives you a 'sablazo' in a restaurant, what happened?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
sablear(to sponge or mooch money) — Verb
sablazo(a blow with a saber / a request for money) — Noun
sablista(a moocher or person who sponges off others) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From French 'sabre', which likely originated from the Hungarian word 'szablya', meaning 'tool to cut with'.

First recorded: 17th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: saberFrench: sabreItalian: sciabola

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'sable' the same as 'espada'?

Not exactly. While both are swords, a 'sable' specifically has a curved blade designed for cutting and slashing, whereas 'espada' is a more general term for any sword.

Does 'sable' mean 'sand' like in French?

No. This is a common mistake for learners. Sand in Spanish is 'arena'. In Spanish, 'sable' refers only to the weapon, the fish, or the heraldic color.

How do you use 'sable' as a verb?

The word 'sable' itself is not a verb, but the related verb 'sablear' is used informally to describe someone mooching money from others.