Inklingo

How to Say "horn" in Spanish

English → Spanish

bocina

bo-SEE-nahboˈθina

nounA2general
Use 'bocina' when referring to the horn of a vehicle that makes a warning sound.
A classic car steering wheel with a large round horn button in the center.

Examples

El conductor tocó la bocina para evitar un accidente.

The driver honked the horn to avoid an accident.

No uses la bocina cerca de un hospital.

Don't use the horn near a hospital.

La bocina del barco se escuchaba a lo lejos.

The ship's horn could be heard in the distance.

Gender Check

Since this word ends in 'a', it is feminine. Always use 'la' or 'una' with it.

Horn vs. Animal Horn

Mistake: “El toro tiene bocinas grandes.”

Correction: El toro tiene cuernos grandes. Use 'cuerno' for animals and 'bocina' for mechanical sounds.

cuerno

KWER-nohˈkweɾno

nounA2general
Use 'cuerno' for the hard, pointed growth found on the heads of certain animals like rhinoceroses or bulls.
A close-up of a single, curved, pointed horn from a bull or goat.

Examples

El rinoceronte tiene un cuerno muy largo.

The rhinoceros has a very long horn.

Este peine está hecho de cuerno de buey.

This comb is made of ox horn.

Making it Plural

Since it ends in a vowel, just add -s: 'los cuernos'.

Horns vs. Trumpets

Mistake: “Using 'cuerno' for a modern musical horn.”

Correction: Use 'trompa' or 'corno francés' for the musical instrument; 'cuerno' usually refers to the animal part or a primitive bugle.

trompeta

trom-peh-tahtɾomˈpeta

nounA1general
Use 'trompeta' when referring to the brass musical instrument, often played in jazz or orchestras.
A shiny gold trumpet resting on a simple wooden table.

Examples

Mi hermano toca la trompeta en una banda de jazz.

My brother plays the trumpet in a jazz band.

La trompeta es un instrumento de metal con un sonido brillante.

The trumpet is a brass instrument with a bright sound.

Para tocar la trompeta, necesitas controlar muy bien la respiración.

To play the trumpet, you need to control your breathing very well.

Always Feminine for the Instrument

When you are talking about the physical object (the instrument), it is always 'la trompeta,' no matter who is playing it.

Using 'Tocar' for Instruments

In Spanish, we don't 'play' (jugar) an instrument; we 'touch' (tocar) it. Always use 'tocar la trompeta' to say you play it.

Playing vs. Touching

Mistake: “Yo juego la trompeta.”

Correction: Yo toco la trompeta. 'Jugar' is for sports and games; 'tocar' is for music.

instrumento

een-stroo-MEN-tohinstɾuˈmento

nounA2general
Use 'instrumento' as a general term for any musical instrument, though it's less common as a direct translation for 'horn' unless specifying a particular type.
A simple, detailed illustration of a brown wooden violin and its bow resting on a soft surface.

Examples

Mi instrumento favorito es el piano, pero toco la guitarra.

My favorite instrument is the piano, but I play the guitar.

Ella necesita un estuche nuevo para proteger su instrumento.

She needs a new case to protect her instrument.

Hay muchos tipos de instrumentos de cuerda y de viento.

There are many types of string and wind instruments.

Vehicle Horn vs. Animal Horn

The most common confusion is between 'bocina' (vehicle horn) and 'cuerno' (animal horn). Remember that 'bocina' is for the sound-making device on a car, while 'cuerno' refers to the physical horn on an animal's head.

Related Translations

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