púa
/ˈpua/
The English phrase "guitar pick" is translated into Spanish as púa.
A púa refers to a small, flat piece of plastic or other material used to pluck the strings of a guitar.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of púa is púas (guitar picks).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpua/
Did you know?
- Because púa means 'spike' or 'point', it is also used in Spanish to describe the sharp metal studs on a punk rock jacket.
- The word púa shares a common ancestor with the English word 'puncture', as both derive from the Latin 'pungō', meaning 'to prick'.
- In the context of horse riding, a púa can refer to the sharp point of a spur used by a rider.
Examples in context
- Mary me contó que su hermano había visto a su vecino borracho intentando abrir la puerta de nuestra casa con una púa de guitarra a las tantas de la noche.Mary told me that her brother had seen her drunk neighbor, trying to open our house window with a guitar pick at some ridiculous hour of the night.This sentence is useful for seeing the word púa used in a descriptive context.Tatoeba #8005122 by Seael, translation #8279795 by lunchmeat317
- Ana me prestó su púa de guitarra cuando se me perdió la mía.Ana lent me her guitar pick when I lost mine.
- Necesito comprar una nueva plumilla para mi guitarra eléctrica.I need to buy a new guitar pick for my electric guitar.
- Necesito una púa nueva para mi guitarra.I need a new guitar pick.
- He perdido la púa de plástico en el escenario.I lost the plastic pick on the stage.
Example conversation
Daniel is looking for a small object in the music room.
- María¿Has visto mi púa roja, Daniel?Have you seen my red pick, Daniel?
- DanielNo, pero creo que está sobre el amplificador.No, but I think it is on top of the amplifier.
- MaríaTienes razón, aquí está.You're right, here it is.
- DanielQué suerte, ya estaba un poco preocupado.What luck, I was getting a little worried.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry púa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries púa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
