How to Say "metal" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “metal” is “metal” — use 'metal' when referring to the chemical element or the substance itself, like iron or copper..
metal
meh-TAHL/meˈtal/
Examples
El oro es un metal precioso.
Gold is a precious metal.
El hierro es un metal muy fuerte y pesado.
Iron is a very strong and heavy metal.
Necesitamos un detector de metales para encontrar las llaves.
We need a metal detector to find the keys.
El oro y la plata son metales preciosos.
Gold and silver are precious metals.
Gender Rule for Materials
Most Spanish nouns ending in -al, especially those referring to elements or materials (like 'metal', 'cristal', 'mineral'), are masculine.
Using 'de' for Genres
When talking about the genre, Spanish often uses 'de' (of) before the noun: 'música de metal' or 'banda de metal'. Sometimes 'música metal' is also used.
Using the Article
Mistake: “El metal es caro. (When speaking generally)”
Correction: The correct phrase is 'El metal es caro' (The metal is expensive). Remember to use the definite article 'el' when referring to a substance in general.
metal
Examples
A mi amigo le encanta el heavy metal.
My friend loves heavy metal.
metálico
Examples
Tiene un brillo metálico.
It has a metallic shine.
Noun vs. Adjective Confusion
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.