How to Say "Crane" in Spanish

grúa

/ˈɡɾua/feminine

The English word crane (machinery) is translated into Spanish as grúa. Wiktionary also lists güinche and guinche.

Meaning: machinery (noun)

Ways to say it

The term grúa is the standard way to refer to a construction crane or a tow truck.

While grúa refers to the large machinery used in construction, árgano refers specifically to a mechanical winch or windlass used for lifting.

In Ecuador, the term wincha is used to refer to a crane or a winch. In Costa Rica, the term wincher is used.

The plural of the feminine noun grúa is grúas.

/ˈɡɾua/

Some Spanish speakers use the word titán to refer to a crane, borrowing the name of the powerful giants from Ancient Greek mythology.

Una grúa eleva materiales de construcción pesados.
A crane raises heavy construction materials.
This sentence is useful for describing how a grúa raises construction materials.
Tatoeba #1306678 by Shishir, translation #681840 by Source_VOA
Por supuesto que se requiere licencia para operar una grúa.
Of course, a license is needed to operate a crane.
This sentence is useful for mentioning that a license is required to operate a grúa.
Tatoeba #1253149 by marcelostockle, translation #329067 by fcbond
La grúa, a diferencia del perro, nunca ha soñado con volar.
The crane, unlike the dog, has never dreamed of flying.
This sentence uses grúa in a metaphorical or descriptive way.
Tatoeba #1236553 by marcelostockle, translation #646792 by kebukebu
1 more sentences on Tatoeba

Alejandro and Lucía are watching a construction site.

Sources

Wiktionary, “crane” translations and entries grúa, güinche, guinche, titán, wincha, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries grúa, guinche, güinche, titán, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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