Inklingo

How to Say "bow" in Spanish

English → Spanish

arco

AR-koh/ˈaɾko/

nounB1general
Use 'arco' when referring to the weapon used for shooting arrows in archery.
A traditional wooden longbow with a taut string, holding one feathered arrow ready for release.

Examples

El arquero tensó la cuerda del arco y disparó la flecha.

The archer tightened the bowstring and shot the arrow.

Necesito cambiar las cerdas del arco de mi violín.

I need to change the hairs on my violin bow.

lazo

/LAH-soh//ˈlaso/

nounA2general
Use 'lazo' for a decorative knot, such as one tied around a gift or used in clothing.
A bright red decorative ribbon tied into a perfect bow.

Examples

Puse un lazo rojo en el regalo de cumpleaños.

I put a red bow on the birthday gift.

Ella siempre lleva un lazo en el pelo.

She always wears a ribbon in her hair.

Masculine Ending

Since it ends in -o, it uses masculine words like 'el' or 'un'.

nariz

nah-REES/naˈɾis/

nounB2figurative/technical
Use 'nariz' to describe the front part of a ship or sometimes a vehicle, colloquially.
A colorful storybook illustration of a stylized nose leaning down to smell the steam and aroma rising from a steaming cup of coffee.

Examples

El catador de vinos tiene una excelente nariz para identificar los aromas frutales.

The wine taster has an excellent nose for identifying the fruity aromas.

Asegúrate de que la nariz del barco apunte hacia el faro.

Make sure the bow (nose) of the boat points toward the lighthouse.

Figurative Use

In technical fields like sailing or tasting, 'nariz' is used just like 'nose' in English to mean the front point or the sense of smell itself.

Confusing 'arco' and 'lazo'

The most common mistake is using 'arco' for a decorative bow. Remember that 'arco' is specifically the archery weapon, while 'lazo' is the knot used for decoration. 'Nariz' is rarely confused as it refers to a very different context.

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