piqueta
/piˈketa/
The English phrase chipping hammer is translated into Spanish as piqueta.
A chipping hammer is a heavy tool with a pointed head used for breaking hard materials like stone or concrete.
Which one should you use?
The term piqueta is the standard form, but you can use piquetón to refer specifically to a larger or heavier version of the tool. In more formal contexts in Spain, you may encounter Martillo Picador for a chipping hammer or Martillo Rompedor to mean a breaker hammer.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Peru, the tool is commonly known as martillo de pica.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the suffix -ón to piqueta results in piquetón, which denotes a larger or heavier tool.
How do you pronounce it?
/piˈketa/
Did you know?
- The word piqueta is derived from pica, meaning 'pike', and the diminutive suffix -eta.
- In some contexts, piqueta can refer to a small stake or peg driven into the ground to mark a boundary or a surveying point.
- The term piquetón can be used colloquially to describe a sharp, sudden blow or a pinch, moving the meaning from the tool to the action it performs.
Examples in context
- El martillo de cincelado es una herramienta esencial en la industria de la construcciónThe chipping hammer is an essential tool in the construction industry
- Necesito un martillo de cincelar para retirar los azulejosI need a chipping hammer to remove the tiles
- Un martillo de cincelado se utiliza para golpear y romper materiales duros, como concreto o piedraA chipping hammer is used to strike and break hard materials, such as concrete or stone
- Necesito una piqueta para romper este concreto.I need a chipping hammer to break this concrete.
- La piqueta es muy pesada.The chipping hammer is very heavy.
- ¿Dónde dejaste la piqueta de la obra?Where did you leave the construction chipping hammer?
Example conversation
Javier and María are at a construction site.
- MaríaJavier, ¿tienes la piqueta?Javier, do you have the chipping hammer?
- JavierSí, la tengo en la caja de herramientas.Yes, I have it in the toolbox.
- MaríaPerfecto, la piqueta es necesaria para este trabajo.Perfect, the chipping hammer is necessary for this job.
- JavierTe la llevo ahora mismo.I will bring it to you right now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry piqueta, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries piqueta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
