escudo
/esˈkudo/masculine
The English word 'shield' is translated into Spanish as escudo. Wiktionary also lists chimal.
Meaning: armor (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| escudo | /esˈkudo/ | masculine |
| chimal | /t͡ʃiˈmal/ | masculine |
The word escudo refers to a physical shield or armor. Historically, it also refers to a Spanish gold or silver coin. In the context of heraldry, the phrase escudo de armas is used specifically to mean a coat of arms. If you wish to express the action of protecting or defending, you can use the related verbs proteger or blindar.
Which one should you use?
While escudo refers to a physical shield or armor, the verb blindar is used when referring to the process of reinforcing or 'shielding' something with metal or protection.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/esˈkudo/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word escudo shares a common ancestor with the English word 'cut', stemming from the Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to split' or 'to divide'.
- In sports, the escudo refers specifically to the logo or crest on a football team's jersey rather than a general 'logo'.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the escudo is the official term for a national emblem or state seal seen on passports and government documents.
Examples in context
- Usé su cuerpo decapitado como escudo.I used his beheaded body as a shield.This sentence demonstrates the use of escudo to describe using a body as a shield.Tatoeba #1538814 by marcelostockle, translation #1538635 by corvard
- La diosa le dio al guerrero una espada y un escudo.The goddess gave the warrior a sword and a shield.This sentence shows how a warrior might receive an escudo alongside a sword.Tatoeba #11582363 by carlosalberto, translation #11582357 by carlosalberto
- Las negras movieron su alfil de casillas blancas a g4, clavando el caballo blanco en f3, que servía como escudo para la dama en d1.Black moved his white-squared bishop to g4, nailing the white knight on f3, which served as a shield for the queen on d1.This sentence illustrates using the word escudo to describe a piece in a game acting as a shield.Tatoeba #10300099 by carlosalberto, translation #10300098 by carlosalberto
- Don Quijote llevaba un escudo en su brazo izquierdo mientras cabalgaba.Don Quijote carried a shield on his left arm while riding.
- El blindaje del tanque resistió el impacto de los proyectiles enemigos.The tank's armor shielded it from enemy projectiles.
- El caballero empuñaba una espada en su mano derecha y sostenía una pavesa en su brazo izquierdo.The knight wielded a sword in his right hand and held a pavesa on his left arm.
- ¿Viste ese agente de policía? Llevaba un chaleco y lo usó como escudo.Did you see that police officer? He wore a vest and used it as a shield.
- El amor de su familia siempre ha sido su mayor protección en tiempos difíciles.The love of his family has always been his greatest shield during tough times.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are looking at a museum exhibit of ancient weapons.
- LucíaMira este escudo de bronce.Look at this bronze shield.
- MateoParece muy pesado para un soldado.It seems very heavy for a soldier.
- LucíaSí, pero el escudo protegía todo el cuerpo.Yes, but the shield protected the whole body.
- MateoEs una pieza de armadura increíble.It is an incredible piece of armor.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shield” translations and entries escudo, chimal, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chimal, escudo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
