Inklingo

How to Say "lance" in Spanish

English → Spanish

lanza

LAHN-sah/ˈlanθa/ (Spain) /s/ / (Latin America)

nounB1general
Use 'lanza' for a general term for a spear or polearm, especially in historical or military contexts.
A simple drawing of a long, wooden spear with a sharp, gray metallic tip, standing upright.

Examples

El caballero llevaba una lanza larga en el torneo.

The knight carried a long lance in the tournament.

La punta de lanza del equipo era el nuevo delantero.

The spearhead (leader) of the team was the new striker.

lance

/lan-se//ˈlanθe/ (Spain) /'lanse/ (Latam)

nounC1historical
Use 'lance' specifically for the weapon used in jousting, particularly in the context of medieval tournaments.
A long, wooden jousting lance with a pointed metal tip is leaning vertically against a simple shield.

Examples

El caballero preparó su lance para el duelo.

The knight prepared his lance for the duel.

General vs. Specific Use

The most common mistake is using the more general term 'lanza' when the specific context of jousting calls for 'lance'. While 'lanza' is the broader term for a spear, 'lance' is reserved for the jousting weapon. Think of 'lanza' as 'spear' and 'lance' as 'jousting spear'.

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