Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| hacer un clavado | /aθeɾ un klabado/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /aseɾ un klabado/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
| zampuzarse | /θampuθaɾse/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /sampusaɾse/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
The primary way to express the action of jumping into water head-first is through hacer un clavado. For related concepts, you might use zambullirse to describe the more general action of plunging or diving into water or buceo to refer to the activity of swimming underwater with equipment.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase hacer un clavado literally translates to to do a dive.
Which one should you use?
While hacer un clavado specifically refers to a head-first dive (often acrobatic), zambullirse is a more general term for plunging or diving into water. Additionally, do not confuse the act of jumping into water with buceo, which refers to the activity of diving underwater with equipment.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For an informal way to say you are throwing yourself headfirst, you can use Tirarse de cabeza. If you are describing a quick, brief or spontaneous dive, the word Chapuzón is used informally. In the specific context of soccer, the slang term piscinazo is used to describe a player diving or faking a fall to win a foul.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Caribbean countries, such as Puerto Rico and Cuba, the expression tirarse de clavado may be used to specifically refer to a dive performed headfirst.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun zambullida is the feminine noun form derived from the verb zambullir.
Did you know?
- The word clavado comes from the idea of something being 'nailed' or 'driven' into place, sharing a root with the English word 'nail'.
- The verb zambullirse is used not just for water, but metaphorically to describe someone who plunges deeply into a task or a conversation.
- The verb hacer shares its ancient Latin ancestor facere with the English word 'fact', meaning both words are built on the concept of 'doing' or 'making'.
Examples in context
- Para realizar un buceo seguro, es importante sumergirse lentamente en el agua.To perform a safe dive, it is important to slowly submerge into the water.
- El clavado de trampolín requiere agilidad y equilibrio.Springboard diving requires agility and balance.
- Siempre me gusta zambullirme en el mar durante mis vacaciones en la playa.I always enjoy diving into the sea during my beach vacations.
- Mis amigos siempre se tiran de cabeza en la piscina cuando hace calor.My friends always dive headfirst into the pool when it's hot.
- Después de tomar el sol, dimos un chapuzón en el río cercano.After sunbathing, we took a dip in the nearby river.
- Él quiere hacer un clavado desde el trampolín.He wants to dive from the springboard.
- ¿Vas a hacer un clavado en la piscina?Are you going to dive into the pool?
- Ella sabe hacer un clavado muy elegante.She knows how to do a very elegant dive.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are watching children play at a swimming pool.
- AlejandroMira, ese niño va a hacer un clavado.Look, that boy is going to dive.
- Elena¡Qué miedo! Él es muy valiente, Alejandro.How scary! He is very brave, Alejandro.
- AlejandroYo también quiero hacer un clavado ahora.I also want to dive right now.
- ElenaTen cuidado con el agua, por favor.Be careful with the water, please.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dive” translations, 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 hacer, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
