plumero
/pluˈmeɾo/masculine
The Spanish word for duster is plumero.
A plumero is an object used for dusting. It is the most common word for this tool in Spanish.
Meaning: object used for dusting (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word plumero is a compound of pluma, meaning feather and the suffix -ero, which is used to denote a tool or container. Literally, it means feather tool.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, you may hear the term trapo para el polvo, which translates to cloth for dust.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine singular form is plumero, and the plural form is plumeros.
How do you pronounce it?
/pluˈmeɾo/
Did you know?
- Spanish uses the same root pluma to describe both the feathers of a bird and the 'plume' of a quill pen, linking the tool for cleaning to the ancient tool for writing.
- The suffix -ero in plumero is a versatile tool in Spanish. It can transform the base word from a physical object into a description of a person, such as a 'feather worker'.
- If you are in a workshop or a hardware store, you might hear people call a duster a cepillo, which actually means 'brush'.
Examples in context
- No llego al techo con este plumero, así que no lo puedo limpiar.I can't reach the ceiling with this duster, so I can't clean it.This sentence is useful for expressing that a plumero cannot reach a high ceiling.Tatoeba #12342114 by arh, translation #9969650 by AlanF_US
- Me puedes pasar el plumero, por favor?Could you pass me the duster, please?
- ¿Dónde dejaste el plumerito que usamos ayer?Where did you leave the little duster we used yesterday?
- Siempre me olvido de comprar un limpiapolvo nuevo.I always forget to buy a new duster.
- Necesito un trapo para el polvo para limpiar los muebles.I need a duster cloth to clean the furniture.
- Necesito un plumero para limpiar las estanterías.I need a duster to clean the shelves.
- El plumero está debajo de la mesa.The duster is under the table.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are cleaning their living room.
- Elena¿Dónde has puesto el plumero, Daniel?Where did you put the duster, Daniel?
- DanielEstá en el armario de la limpieza.It is in the cleaning closet.
- ElenaGracias, voy a sacudir el televisor.Thanks, I am going to dust the TV.
- DanielYo limpiaré las lámparas entonces.I will clean the lamps then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “duster” translations and entries plumero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
