percha
/ˈpeɾt͡ʃa/feminine
The English phrase coat hanger can be translated into Spanish as percha, gancho or colgador.
Meaning: device used to hang up coats, shirts, etc (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| percha | /ˈpeɾt͡ʃa/ | feminine |
| gancho | /ˈɡant͡ʃo/ | masculine |
| colgador | /kolɡaˈdoɾ/ | masculine |
All three terms refer to a device used to hang up coats, shirts, etc.
Which one should you use?
gancho literally means 'hook' and is often used to refer to the hanger by its shape or to a simple wall hook. Colgador is a functional term derived from the verb 'colgar' (to hang), literally meaning 'a thing used for hanging'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural forms are perchas, ganchos and colgadores.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpeɾtʃa/
Did you know?
- While gancho means 'hook', in many Latin American countries, it is also a common slang term for a 'pimp'.
- The term percha is used in some Spanish-speaking regions to describe a person with a very tall or slender build, much like a 'hanger' for clothes.
- In a boxing context, a gancho is the specific name for a 'hook punch', referring to the curved shape of the strike.
Examples in context
- Por favor, trae una percha para colgar mi abrigo.Please bring a coat hanger to hang my coat.
- No encuentro ningún colgador en el armario.I can't find any coat hangers in the closet.
- Necesito un gancho para mi abrigo en el vestuario.I need a coat hanger for my coat in the dressing room.
- Necesito una percha para mi chaqueta.I need a coat hanger for my jacket.
- La percha es de madera.The coat hanger is made of wood.
- Pon la camisa en la percha.Put the shirt on the hanger.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are organizing their bedroom closet.
- Lucía¿Dónde está la percha azul?Where is the blue hanger?
- AlejandroEstá sobre la cama, Lucía.It is on the bed, Lucía.
- LucíaGracias, la usaré para mi abrigo.Thanks, I will use it for my coat.
- AlejandroDe nada, busca otra si necesitas más.You're welcome, look for another one if you need more.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coat hanger” translations and entries percha, gancho, colgador, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
