How to Say "Shotgun" in Spanish

escopeta

/eskoˈpeta/

The Spanish word for shotgun is escopeta.

Meaning: front seat next to driver (noun)

Which one should you use?

While escopeta is the specific term for a shotgun, arma larga is a more general term used to refer to a shotgun or any firearm of considerable size.

/eskoˈpeta/

In many Spanish-speaking countries, if you want to claim the front seat of a car, you do not say escopeta. Instead, you might shout ¡Al lado! or simply 'the side'.
In some Spanish-speaking cultures, a 'shotgun wedding' is not called an escopeta wedding, but is instead referred to as a boda forzada or 'forced wedding'.
The word escopeta traces its roots back to the Italian word scoppietto, which implies something that 'pops' or 'snaps'.

Se disparó la escopeta.
The shotgun went off.
This sentence is useful for showing how to say the shotgun went off using escopeta.
Tatoeba #2268516 by cueyayotl, translation #2268515 by _undertoad
Tom volvió con una escopeta.
Tom came back with a shotgun.
This sentence is useful for describing someone coming back with an escopeta.
Tatoeba #4631656 by AucaCoyan, translation #4630508 by Amastan
Ziri se compró una escopeta.
Ziri purchased a shotgun.
This sentence is useful for describing the purchase of an escopeta.
Tatoeba #13931602 by BenjaBesings_14, translation #10211037 by Amastan
Me gusta practicar tiro al plato con mi escopeta.
I like to practice clay pigeon shooting with my shotgun.
3 more sentences on Tatoeba

Javier and Sofía are walking to the car.

Sources

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