mazo
neutral
A "sledgehammer" in Spanish, including Mexican Spanish, is a mazo or a marro. Both words name the large hammer with a long handle used for breaking things.
Meaning: large heavy hammer with a long handle (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| mazo | neutral |
| marro | neutral |
You say Rompió la pared con un mazo for he broke the wall with a sledgehammer. A regular hammer is martillo.
Which one should you use?
Mazo is also a wooden mallet in some contexts, such as the judge's gavel. Marro is the term used for the heavy iron hammer.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both are masculine: el mazo grande, un marro pesado.
Did you know?
- The word mazo is also used in Spain as slang meaning "a lot", but this is not a Mexican use.
Examples in context
- Necesito un mazo para romper el concreto.I need a sledgehammer to break the concrete.
- El marro es muy pesado.The sledgehammer is very heavy.
- Usa el martillo para el clavo.Use the hammer for the nail.
Example conversation
Builder Armando and his helper Chucho work on a wall in Chihuahua.
- ArmandoChucho, pásame el mazo.Chucho, pass me the sledgehammer.
- ChuchoAquí está. Pesa mucho.Here it is. It weighs a lot.
- ArmandoCuidado con los ojos al golpear.Watch your eyes when hitting.
