Inklingo

How to Say "knob" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “knob” is “tirador” — use 'tirador' for a knob that functions as a handle to pull or open something, like on a drawer or door..

English → Spanish

tirador

tee-rah-DOR/ti.ɾaˈðoɾ/

nounA2general
Use 'tirador' for a knob that functions as a handle to pull or open something, like on a drawer or door.
A close-up view of a small, shiny metal handle attached to the front panel of a wooden cabinet drawer.

Examples

El tirador de la cómoda se salió, necesito pegarlo.

The drawer pull on the dresser came off; I need to glue it.

Gira el tirador para abrir la puerta de la alacena.

Turn the handle to open the cupboard door.

Masculine Noun

Since 'tirador' ends in '-or', it is a masculine noun and requires the masculine article 'el' or 'un'.

control

/kon-trol//konˈtɾol/

nounB1general
Use 'control' for a knob that operates a device or machine, such as a dial or switch.
A stylized machine control panel featuring a large red lever, two rotary dials, and several toggle switches.

Examples

El piloto revisó los controles antes de despegar.

The pilot checked the controls before taking off.

El control de volumen está en el lado derecho del altavoz.

The volume control is on the right side of the speaker.

Singular vs. Plural

You can use 'el control' for a single knob or function (like 'el control de volumen') or 'los controles' for the entire set of controls on a machine (like 'los controles del coche').

Tirador vs. Control

Learners often confuse 'tirador' and 'control' because both can be knobs. Remember that 'tirador' is specifically for pulling or opening, while 'control' is for operating a mechanism.

Related Translations

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