boquilla
/boˈkiʝa/feminine
The English word nozzle is translated into Spanish as boquilla. Wiktionary also lists tobera and inyector.
Meaning: short tube (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| boquilla | /boˈkiʝa/ | feminine |
| tobera | /toˈbeɾa/ | feminine |
| inyector | /inʝeɡˈtoɾ/ | masculine |
The term boquilla is the most common term for a general nozzle, such as on a spray bottle, a garden hose or a musical instrument mouthpiece.
Which one should you use?
Spanish uses different words depending on the specific type of nozzle. Use boquilla for general mechanical uses or musical mouthpieces. Use tobera for specialized aerospace or engineering contexts, such as a rocket or jet engine nozzle. Use inyector specifically when referring to a fuel injector nozzle in an engine.
How do you pronounce it?
/boˈkiʝa/
Did you know?
- The term tobera is borrowed from Basque, a language isolate that is completely unrelated to Spanish or Latin.
- The word boquilla is actually a diminutive of boca, which means 'mouth'. It literally translates to 'little mouth'.
- While inyector describes the nozzle of a fuel system, the verb inyectar is also used in medical contexts to describe giving an injection.
Examples in context
- En un cohete líquido, los propelentes, el combustible y el oxidante, se almacenan por separado como líquidos y se bombean a la cámara de combustión de la boquilla donde se produce la combustión.In a liquid rocket, the propellants, the fuel and the oxidizer, are stored separately as liquids and are pumped into the combustion chamber of the nozzle where burning occurs.This sentence is useful for describing the combustion process within a liquid rocket's boquilla.Tatoeba #5924031 by albrusgher, translation #5325818 by Hybrid
- En el motor de un cohete, el combustible y una fuente de oxígeno, llamado oxidante, se mezclan y explotan en una cámara de combustión. La combustión produce un escape caliente que se pasa a través de una boquilla para acelerar el flujo y producir empuje.In a rocket engine, fuel and a source of oxygen, called an oxidizer, are mixed and exploded in a combustion chamber. The combustion produces hot exhaust which is passed through a nozzle to accelerate the flow and produce thrust.This sentence is useful for explaining how exhaust passes through a boquilla to produce thrust in a rocket engine.Tatoeba #5924040 by albrusgher, translation #5325815 by Hybrid
- El fontanero conectó la boquilla a la manguera para regar el jardín.The plumber attached the nozzle to the hose to water the garden.
- Podrías pasarme la pistola para regar las plantas?Could you hand me the nozzle to water the plants?
- La boquilla de la manguera está tapada.The nozzle of the hose is clogged.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are cleaning the garden with a hose.
- LucíaAlejandro, el agua no sale bien.Alejandro, the water is not coming out well.
- AlejandroCreo que la boquilla tiene mucha suciedad.I think the nozzle has a lot of dirt.
- LucíaDéjame intentar limpiarla yo misma.Let me try to clean it myself.
- AlejandroGracias, Lucía, ten cuidado con la presión.Thanks, Lucía, be careful with the pressure.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nozzle” translations and entries boquilla, tobera, inyector, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries boquilla, inyector, tobera, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
