horca
farm tool
In Spanish a pitchfork is horca. In Mexico the same word is used for the long-handled farm tool, though many people also associate tridente with the devil's trident.
Meaning: farm tool with long prongs (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| horca | farm tool |
| tridente | trident |
Horca is the farm tool used to move hay or straw. In stories and costumes the devil carries a tridente, which looks like a pitchfork with three prongs.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Horca can also mean a gallows, so in a different context the word means something else.
Did you know?
- The word horca comes from Latin furca, which is also the source of the English word "fork".
Examples in context
- El campesino usa una horca para mover la paja.The farmer uses a pitchfork to move the straw.
- El diablo lleva un tridente.The devil carries a trident.
- Dejé la horca en el establo.I left the pitchfork in the barn.
Example conversation
Don Lucio and his grandson Beto work in a field in Zacatecas.
- Don LucioBeto, tráeme la horca.Beto, bring me the pitchfork.
- Beto¿La que está en el establo?The one in the barn?
- Don LucioSí, esa. Hay que mover la paja.Yes, that one. We need to move the straw.
