How to Say "compass" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “compass” is “brújula” — use 'brújula' when you mean the tool used for determining direction, typically with a magnetic needle pointing north.
English → Spanish
brújula
nounA2navigation tool
Use 'brújula' when you mean the tool used for determining direction, typically with a magnetic needle pointing north.
Examples
Necesitamos una brújula para caminar por la montaña.
We need a compass to hike through the mountain.
compás
nounA2drawing tool
Use 'compás' when you mean the drawing instrument used to create circles or arcs.
Examples
Usa el compás para dibujar un círculo perfecto.
Use the compass to draw a perfect circle.
Navigation vs. Drawing
The most common mistake is using 'compás' when you mean a navigational tool. Remember: 'brújula' is for finding your way, and 'compás' is for drawing circles.
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