Inklingo

How to Say "sword" in Spanish

English → Spanish

espada

es-PAH-dahesˈpaða

nounA1general
Use 'espada' for the general, all-purpose term for a sword, especially in modern contexts or when the specific type isn't important.
A high quality illustration of a single, straight silver sword with a golden hilt resting on a neutral background.

Examples

El caballero desenvainó su espada para la batalla.

The knight drew his sword for the battle.

La espada es un símbolo de honor y justicia en muchas culturas.

The sword is a symbol of honor and justice in many cultures.

Gender Tip

Even though 'espada' starts with a stressed 'e' sound, it is always a feminine noun and does not use the masculine article 'el' (like 'agua' or 'águila'). Always say 'la espada'.

Article Confusion

Mistake: “El espada es vieja.”

Correction: La espada es vieja. (Remember 'espada' is feminine: LA espada.)

sable

SAH-blehˈsa.βle

nounB1general
Use 'sable' when referring to a saber, a type of sword with a curved blade, often associated with military officers or fencing.
A curved cavalry sword with a metallic blade and a golden hilt resting on a wooden surface.

Examples

El oficial desenvainó su sable durante el desfile militar.

The officer unsheathed his saber during the military parade.

En las clases de esgrima, aprendemos a usar el sable.

In fencing classes, we learn how to use the saber.

El museo tiene una colección de sables antiguos del siglo XIX.

The museum has a collection of ancient sabers from the 19th century.

Masculine 'e' ending

Nouns ending in '-e' can be tricky. 'Sable' is always masculine, so you must use 'el' or 'un'.

Plural formation

To talk about more than one, simply add an '-s' to get 'sables'.

False Friend Alert

Mistake: “Using 'sable' to mean 'sand'.”

Correction: In Spanish, sand is 'arena'. 'Sable' in French means sand, but in Spanish, it is a sword!

hierro

YAIR-rohˈje.ro

nounC1literary, historical
Use 'hierro' as a historical or poetic term for a sword, emphasizing its material ('iron') rather than its specific form.
A straight, silver medieval sword with a simple crossguard and handle, standing upright.

Examples

El caballero desenvainó su hierro y se preparó para la batalla.

The knight unsheathed his sword (his iron) and prepared for battle.

Necesitas tener nervios de hierro para ser un buen negociador.

You need to have nerves of steel (nerves of iron) to be a good negotiator.

Espada vs. Sable

Learners often use 'espada' for all bladed weapons, but 'sable' specifically denotes a saber. If you're talking about a curved military sword, 'sable' is more precise than the general term 'espada'.

Related Translations

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