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How to Say "saw" in Spanish

English → Spanish

sierra

/syé-rra//ˈsjera/

nounB1general
Use 'sierra' when referring to the tool used for cutting materials like wood or metal.
A simple illustration of a large hand saw with a shiny, serrated blade and a brown wooden handle, resting on a piece of wood.

Examples

Cuidado con la sierra, tiene dientes muy afilados.

Be careful with the saw, it has very sharp teeth.

Necesitamos una sierra eléctrica para este proyecto.

We need an electric saw for this project.

Related Verb

The verb associated with this tool is 'serrar' (to saw). If you see 'sierra' used as a verb form (e.g., 'él sierra'), it means 'he/she saws'.

Pronunciation

Mistake: “Pronouncing the 'ie' sound separately (si-e-rra).”

Correction: The 'ie' forms a single sound (a diphthong), pronounced quickly like 'sye-rra'.

vió

verbA1general
Use 'vió' (preterite of 'ver') when referring to the past action of perceiving something with your eyes.

Examples

Ella vió un pájaro azul en el jardín.

She saw a blue bird in the garden.

Tool vs. Action of Seeing

The most common mistake is confusing the noun 'sierra' (tool) with the verb 'vio' (past tense of 'to see'). Remember that 'sierra' is always a physical object, while 'vio' describes a past action of perception.

Related Translations

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