Inklingo

How to Say "clasp" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word forclaspis brocheuse 'broche' for a decorative clasp on jewelry, like a bracelet or necklace, or a decorative fastener on clothing.

English → Spanish

broche

bro-cheˈbɾotʃe

nounA2general
Use 'broche' for a decorative clasp on jewelry, like a bracelet or necklace, or a decorative fastener on clothing.
A decorative golden clasp fastening a necklace.

Examples

Se me rompió el broche de la pulsera.

The clasp of my bracelet broke.

Ella lleva un broche de plata en su chaqueta.

She is wearing a silver brooch on her jacket.

Asegúrate de cerrar bien el broche del collar.

Make sure to close the necklace clasp properly.

It's a Masculine Word

Even though it ends in 'e', 'broche' is masculine, so you always say 'el broche' or 'un broche'.

Plural Form

To talk about more than one, simply add an 's' to the end: 'los broches'.

Using 'pin' for jewelry

Mistake:Me gusta tu pin.

Correction: Me gusta tu broche.

cierre

syair-reh'sjere

nounB1general
Use 'cierre' for a functional fastening mechanism on clothing (like a zipper) or a box.
A close-up illustration of a silver zipper pull on a piece of red fabric, clearly showing the teeth and the slider.

Examples

El cierre de mi chaqueta está roto.

The zipper on my jacket is broken.

Olvidé subir el cierre de mi pantalón.

I forgot to pull up the zipper on my pants.

Asegúrate de que el cierre de la maleta esté bien puesto.

Make sure the fastener/clasp on the suitcase is properly secured.

Regional Differences

While 'cierre' is understood everywhere for a zipper, many Spanish speakers prefer 'cremallera' (especially in Spain) or 'zíper' (a Spanglish loanword).

Broche vs. Cierre

Learners often confuse 'broche' and 'cierre' because both can refer to a fastener. Remember that 'broche' is typically decorative (jewelry, clothing embellishment), while 'cierre' refers to a functional mechanism like a zipper or a box latch.

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