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🔨Handyman

Tools, fixings, and what you do with them.

14 concepts

Columns follow the languages switched on at the top. Gender after the word (m/f/n); IPA beneath; notes, alternatives and origins underneath — nothing is hidden.

ConceptEnglishFrançaisEspañol
hammer
noun
hammer
ˈhæmə
marteaum
maʁto
pl. marteaux
martillom
maɾˈtiʎo
/maɾˈtijo/ for most speakers.
nail (metal)
noun
nail
neɪl
Also fingernail — English uses one word for both.
cloum
klu
Fingernail = ongle.
clavom
ˈklaβo
Also 'clove' (the spice). Fingernail = uña.
screw
noun
screw
skɹuː
visf
vis
pl. vis
The final s IS pronounced — an exception.
tornillom
toɾˈniʎo
/toɾˈnijo/ for most speakers.
screwdriver
noun
screwdriver
ˈskɹuːˌdɹaɪvə
tournevism
tuʁnəvis
Tourne + vis: 'turn-screw'.
destornilladorm
destoɾniʎaˈðoɾ
Literally an 'un-screwer'.
drill (power tool)
noun
drill
dɹɪl
perceusef
pɛʁsøz
taladrom
taˈlaðɾo
saw
noun
saw
sɔː
Also the past tense of 'see'.
scief
si
sierraf
ˈsjera
Also 'mountain range' — a jagged line of peaks.
pliers
noun
pliers
ˈplaɪəz
Plural only: a pair of pliers.
pincef
pɛ̃s
Also a clothes peg, a crab's claw, a dart (sewing).
alicatesm
aliˈkates
also: pinzas
Usually plural. Arabic origin (al-laqqāṭ, 'tongs').
wrench / spanner
noun
spanner
ˈspænə
also: wrench (US)
cléf
kle
also: clé à molette (adjustable)
Same word as 'key'.
llave inglesaf
ˈʎaβe iŋˈɡlesa
'English key' — llave = key. /ˈjaβe/ for most speakers.
ladder
noun
ladder
ˈlædə
échellef
eʃɛl
Also 'scale' (map, measurement).
escaleraf
eskaˈleɾa
Also 'staircase'. Escalera de mano = ladder specifically.
tape measure
noun
tape measure
ˈteɪp ˌmɛʒə
mètrem
mɛtʁ
also: mètre ruban
cinta métricaf
ˈθinta ˈmetɾika
also: metro
to screw (in)
verb
to screw in
skɹuː ɪn
visser
vise
Dévisser = to unscrew.
atornillar
atoɾniˈʎaɾ
Desatornillar = to unscrew.
to drill
verb
to drill
dɹɪl
percer
pɛʁse
Also 'to pierce' — percer un trou.
taladrar
talaˈðɾaɾ
also: perforar
to fix / repair
verb
to fix
fɪks
also: to repair, to mend
réparer
ʁepaʁe
also: bricoler (to tinker / do DIY)
arreglar
areˈɣlaɾ
also: reparar
Also 'to tidy', 'to sort out'.
DIY
noun
DIY
ˌdiːaɪˈwaɪ
Do it yourself.
bricolagem
bʁikɔlaʒ
Faire du bricolage. Un bricoleur = a handy person.
bricolajem
bɾikoˈlaxe
Borrowed from French bricolage.