Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| amañar | /amaˈɲaɾ/ |
| trucar | /tɾuˈkaɾ/ |
| apañar | /apaˈɲaɾ/ |
When you mean to manipulate something dishonestly, such as an election, a game or a specific result, use the verb amañar. In the oil industry, the term plataforma petrolífera is used to refer to a rig. If you are referring to the equipment, gear or the arrangement of masts on a sailboat, use the noun aparejo or jarcia.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on what is being rigged. Use amañar to describe rigging an election, a match or a fixed outcome. Use trucar when referring to rigging a device, a machine or a trick to make it function dishonestly. Use apañar when you mean rigging something together as a makeshift solution or a patch, though it can also be used to mean fixing something dishonestly in certain contexts. For the noun form of rigging on a sailboat, you can use aparejo or jarcia.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and some Central American nations, the word sonda may be used to refer to oil drilling rigs.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle amañado can be used as an adjective to describe something that has been rigged, such as un partido amañado (a rigged match).
How do you pronounce it?
/amaˈɲaɾ/
Did you know?
- The verb apañar comes from the word paño, which means 'cloth'. It originally described the act of wrapping or patching something with a piece of fabric.
- The word sonda used for rigs in Mexico literally translates to 'probe' or 'sound', referring to the action of testing the depth of the earth.
- The word amañar is built from the root maña, which refers to 'skill' or 'knack'. To 'rig' something in Spanish is etymologically described as 'applying skill' to a situation.
Examples in context
- La compañía construyó una nueva plataforma petrolífera en alta mar.The company built a new offshore oil rig.
- Necesitamos revisar la jarcia del velero antes de zarpar.We need to check the rigging of the sailboat before setting sail.
- Intentaron amañar las elecciones.They tried to rig the elections.
- Él fue acusado de amañar el sorteo.He was accused of rigging the draw.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are discussing a suspicious competition.
- DanielCreo que alguien intentó amañar el concurso.I think someone tried to rig the contest.
- Sofía¿Por qué piensas eso, Daniel?Why do you think that, Daniel?
- DanielEl ganador es amigo del organizador.The winner is a friend of the organizer.
- SofíaTienes razón, Sofía sospecha lo mismo.You are right, Sofía suspects the same thing.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rig” translations and entries amañar, trucar, apañar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amañar, apañar, trucar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
