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How to Say "missile" in Spanish

English → Spanish

misil

mee-SEELmiˈsil

nounB1military weapon
Use 'misil' when referring to a self-propelled weapon, especially one that is guided, used in military contexts.
A sleek, metallic missile flying through the air with a trail of white smoke behind it against a clear blue sky.

Examples

El barco lanzó un misil de prueba al océano.

The ship launched a test missile into the ocean.

El sistema de defensa puede detectar un misil a gran distancia.

The defense system can detect a missile from a long distance.

Making it Plural

Since this word ends in a consonant (l), you add '-es' to make it plural: 'los misiles'.

Misil vs. Cohete

Mistake: “Using 'misil' for a space rocket.”

Correction: Use 'cohete' for space exploration or fireworks. 'Misil' is specifically used for weapons.

cohete

ko-E-tekoˈete

nounB1military weapon
Use 'cohete' for rockets, which can be military weapons or vehicles used for space exploration.
A stylized red and white space rocket launching upward from a grassy field, emitting bright orange and yellow flames from its base.

Examples

El cohete tardó tres días en llegar a la órbita de Marte.

The rocket took three days to reach Mars' orbit.

La agencia espacial está diseñando un cohete más potente.

The space agency is designing a more powerful rocket.

Masculine Noun Rule

Even though 'cohete' ends in 'e', it is always a masculine noun, so you must use 'el' (the) or 'un' (a) before it.

proyectil

pro-yek-TEELpɾoʝekˈtil

nounB1military or aerospace context
Use 'proyectil' for any object that is shot or thrown, especially in a military or aerospace context, like a bullet or a stone used as a weapon.
A wooden ball flying through the air with motion lines behind it.

Examples

La piedra se convirtió en un proyectil peligroso.

The stone became a dangerous projectile.

El proyectil alcanzó su objetivo en pocos segundos.

The projectile reached its target in a few seconds.

Los arqueólogos encontraron proyectiles de piedra antiguos.

Archaeologists found ancient stone projectiles.

Always Masculine

Even if the object being thrown is feminine (like 'una piedra' or 'una bala'), when you use the word 'proyectil', you must always use the masculine article 'el'.

How to make it plural

Since this word ends in a consonant, you add '-es' to the end to make it plural: 'los proyectiles'.

Confusing with 'bala'

Mistake: “Using 'proyectil' to describe every small bullet in casual conversation.”

Correction: Use 'bala' for everyday talk about guns; 'proyectil' is better for science, physics, or more formal reports.

Misil vs. Cohete

Learners often confuse 'misil' and 'cohete'. Remember that 'misil' specifically refers to a guided weapon, while 'cohete' can refer to a rocket used for space travel or sometimes a less guided explosive projectile.

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