How to Say "rocket" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “rocket” is “cohete” — use 'cohete' when referring to a spacecraft, like one that travels to space, or a projectile that is not specifically a weapon..
cohete
/ko-E-te//koˈete/
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.
misil
/mee-SEEL//miˈsil/
Examples
El delantero marcó un gol con un misil desde fuera del área.
The forward scored a goal with a rocket from outside the box.
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.
Ese coche pasó por la calle como un misil.
That car flew down the street like a bolt of lightning.
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 vs. Misil
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