Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pomo | /ˈpomo/ | masculine |
| perilla | /peˈɾiʝa/ | feminine |
| pomo de la puerta | /pomo de la pweɾta/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| picaporte | /pikaˈpoɾte/ | masculine |
A doorknob is a circular device attached to a door that you rotate to unlatch the door. You can use pomo to refer to the object generally, or pomo de la puerta to specifically indicate that the knob belongs to a door.
Which one should you use?
The word perilla is more common in certain Latin American countries, whereas pomo is widely understood elsewhere. picaporte is often used in more formal or technical contexts to refer to the door handle mechanism.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, such as Mexico and Colombia, perilla is used to refer to a doorknob. In Spain, the term pomo de la puerta is used to describe a doorknob.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun pomo becomes pomos in the plural, and the feminine noun perilla becomes perillas in the plural.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpomo/
Did you know?
- The word perilla is also used in Spanish to describe a person's chin beard or a small control knob on a radio or stove.
- The word pomo for a doorknob shares its origins with the English word 'pome', which refers to fruits like apples or pears.
- The English word 'pommel', used to describe the knob on a sword or saddle, is a distant relative of the Spanish pomo.
Examples in context
- No toques esa perilla.Don't touch that doorknob.This sentence is useful for giving a command regarding the perilla.Tatoeba #3390074 by marcelostockle, translation #2261622 by CK
- Ella giró el picaporte despacio.She turned the doorknob slowly.This sentence shows the action of turning a picaporte.Tatoeba #1361218 by Shishir, translation #312386 by CK
- Tom buscó a tientas el pomo de la puerta.Tom fumbled with the doorknob.This sentence illustrates searching for the pomo.Tatoeba #5641638 by albrusgher, translation #3721355 by CM
- Por favor, necesito que arregles el pomo de puerta. No gira correctamente.Please, I need you to fix the doorknob. It doesn't turn properly.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are in their new apartment.
- Lucía¿Por qué no abre la puerta?Why is the door not opening?
- JavierCreo que el pomo está roto.I think the doorknob is broken.
- Lucía¡Qué mal! Tenemos que comprar uno nuevo.That's too bad! We have to buy a new one.
- JavierSí, iré a la ferretería mañana.Yes, I will go to the hardware store tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “doorknob” translations and entries pomo, perilla, picaporte, 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 de, la, perilla, picaporte, pomo, puerta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
