tolva
/ˈtolba/
The Spanish word for hopper is tolva.
A tolva refers to a container used to hold and dispense bulk materials like grain, coal or sand.
Meaning: that which hops or makes hop (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtolba/
Did you know?
- While a tolva is a mechanical device, the root word relates to the concept of something hollow or tubular rather than the action of jumping.
- The word tolva is used in Spanish military terminology to describe certain types of ammunition feeding mechanisms, adapting the industrial concept to weaponry.
- The word tolva shares a distant family tree with the English word 'tube'. This connection exists because both words trace back to the Latin 'tubula', meaning a small pipe or hollow vessel.
Examples in context
- Usa la tolva para transferir los materiales al camión.Use the hopper to transfer the materials to the truck.
- La tolva del camión está llena de arena.The truck's hopper is full of sand.
- La tolva está medio llena.The hopper is half full.
- Necesitamos limpiar la tolva de la máquina.We need to clean the machine's hopper.
- El grano cae directamente en la tolva.The grain falls directly into the hopper.
Example conversation
At a grain processing plant.
- ElenaDaniel, ¿puedes revisar la tolva?Daniel, can you check the hopper?
- DanielSí, Elena, parece que está bloqueada.Yes, Elena, it seems to be blocked.
- ElenaTráeme la herramienta para despejar la tolva.Bring me the tool to clear the hopper.
- DanielVoy enseguida.I'm going right now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tolva, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tolva, CC BY-SA 4.0.
