Inklingo

How to Say "mill" in Spanish

English → Spanish

fábrica

nounA1general
Use 'fábrica' when referring to a building or complex where goods are manufactured, like a car factory or steel mill.

Examples

Mi tío trabaja en una fábrica de coches muy grande.

My uncle works in a very large car factory.

molino

/mo-LEE-no//moˈlino/

nounA2general
Use 'molino' for a machine or structure specifically designed for grinding grain, such as a windmill or a flour mill.
A classic stone windmill with large sails standing in a field.

Examples

El Quijote confundió los molinos con gigantes.

Don Quixote mistook the windmills for giants.

Necesito un molino de café nuevo porque el mío se rompió.

I need a new coffee grinder because mine broke.

España tiene muchos molinos de viento para generar energía limpia.

Spain has many wind turbines to generate clean energy.

Always Masculine

The word 'molino' is always masculine. You must use 'el' or 'un' with it, even if you are talking about a small kitchen tool.

Using 'de' for Purpose

To specify what the mill is for or how it is powered, just add 'de' followed by the noun (e.g., molino de viento, molino de pimienta).

Don't confuse the machine with the action

Mistake: “Voy a comprar un moler.”

Correction: Voy a comprar un molino. 'Moler' is the verb (to grind), while 'molino' is the object (the grinder).

Fábrica vs. Molino

The most common mistake is using 'fábrica' when you mean a grain-grinding mill. Remember, 'fábrica' is for industrial production, while 'molino' is specifically for grinding, historically grain.

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