Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| llave | /ˈʝabe/ | feminine |
| llavín | /ʝabin/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
The word llave refers to an object used to open or close a lock. You can use it in several specific ways: llave de casa for a house key, and llave de coche for a car key. In Latin America, the phrase llave de carro is used to refer to a car key. Additionally, llave can refer to valves or taps, such as a llave de paso, which is a shut-off valve for water or gas. If you are looking for the word keychain, you can use llavero or cadena de llaves. Note that in technology contexts, the word clave is used to refer to passwords or encryption codes and the verb teclear means to enter information.
Which one should you use?
While llave is the general term for a key, llavín specifically refers to a small key or a skeleton key.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʝabe/
Did you know?
- In the context of combat sports and wrestling, a llave refers to a grappling hold or a joint lock. The term uses the concept of 'locking' a limb just as a key locks a door.
- The word llave is used in Spanish to describe a 'wrench' in many technical or mechanical contexts. Instead of a tool for a lock, you are holding a tool for tightening bolts.
- The word llave is a linguistic sibling of the English word 'clef' used in music notation. Both words share a common ancestor in the Latin word for 'key'.
Examples in context
- Esa es la llave.That's the key.Tatoeba #4767324 by DarkHollow, translation #2251268 by CK
- Ésta es tu llave.Here is your key.Tatoeba #576742 by Shishir, translation #61534 by CK
- Él giró la llave.He turned the key.Tatoeba #1332218 by Shishir, translation #291899 by CK
- Por favor, ¿me das la llave de la puerta?Could you please give me the key to the door?
- La llave del éxito es el trabajo duro.The key to success is hard work.
- Ingresa tu clave de acceso para desbloquear tu teléfono.Enter your access key to unlock your phone.
- Perdí la llave de mi habitación en el hotel.I lost the key to my hotel room.
- ¿Dónde puedo hacer una copia de mi llave de casa?Where can I make a copy of my house key?
- 233 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are searching for his car keys near the door.
- Sofía¿Dónde dejaste la llave del coche, Mateo?Where did you leave the car key, Mateo?
- MateoNo la encuentro por ninguna parte.I can't find it anywhere.
- SofíaMira, la llave está sobre la mesa.Look, the key is on the table.
- Mateo¡Ah, qué suerte que la encontraste!Ah, I'm so lucky you found it!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “key” translations and entries llave, llavín, 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 llave, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
