calibre
/kaˈlibɾe/masculine
The English phrase caliber translates to Spanish as calibre.
calibre is a masculine noun used to refer to the diameter of the bore of a firearm.
Meaning: diameter of the bore of a firearm (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/kaˈlibɾe/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the feminine article la because of the English word 'caliber', but in Spanish, calibre is a masculine noun and requires el.
Did you know?
- The term calibre is used in Spanish agriculture to describe the size and grading of fruits and vegetables, such as olives or grapes.
- The word calibre is a linguistic sibling to gálibo, which refers to the maximum height or width of a vehicle or train that can pass through a tunnel.
- In Spanish, calibre is frequently used as a metaphor for a person's level of talent or influence, such as calling someone a gran calibre.
Examples in context
- La pistola tiene un calibre de nueve milímetros.The gun has a caliber of nine millimeters.
- He comprado una escopeta de calibre 12.I bought a 12-gauge shotgun.
- El calibre de esta pistola es pequeño.The caliber of this pistol is small.
- Necesito comprar munición de calibre .22.I need to buy .22 caliber ammunition.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are looking at a collection of old firearms in a shop.
- Lucía¿Sabes de qué calibre es este revólver?Do you know what caliber this revolver is?
- JavierParece ser de un calibre estándar.It seems to be a standard caliber.
- LucíaJavier, busca el calibre en la caja.Javier, look for the caliber on the box.
- JavierTienes razón, aquí dice el calibre exacto.You are right, here it says the exact caliber.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “caliber” translations and entries calibre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries calibre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
