martillar
/maɾtiˈʝaɾ/
The Spanish phrase for 'hammer down' is martillar.
This phrase is used to describe the action of hitting something repeatedly with a hammer, typically to drive an object into a surface or to flatten a material.
How do you pronounce it?
/maɾtiˈʝaɾ/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, martillar can be used colloquially to describe the act of insisting or pestering someone relentlessly until they agree to something.
- While martillar is the verb for the action, the word for the tool, martillo, shares its root with the English word 'martel', an Old French term for a hammer used in medieval warfare.
- A common Spanish idiom for a piercing headache is dolor martilleante, which literally describes a pain that feels like it is being hammered into the skull.
Examples in context
- Tienes que martillar el clavo con fuerza.You have to hammer the nail in with force.
- Él empezó a martillar la pieza de metal.He began to hammer the metal piece.
- No dejes de martillar hasta que esté plano.Don't stop hammering until it is flat.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are fixing a wooden fence in the garden.
- JavierLucía, ¿puedes ayudarme a martillar estos clavos?Lucía, can you help me hammer down these nails?
- LucíaSí, Javier, dame el martillo ahora mismo.Yes, Javier, give me the hammer right now.
- JavierGracias, martillar esto solo es muy cansado.Thanks, hammering this down alone is very tiring.
- LucíaNo te preocupes, yo termino el trabajo.Don't worry, I will finish the job.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry martillar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
