almádena
/alˈmadena/feminine
The English word sledgehammer is translated into Spanish as almádena or mandarria.
Meaning: kind of hammer (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| almádena | /alˈmadena/ | feminine |
| mandarria | /manˈdarja/ | feminine |
Both words refer to a kind of hammer.
Which one should you use?
almádena is a more specialized or technical term for a sledgehammer, whereas mandarria is the common term.
How do you pronounce it?
/alˈmadena/
Did you know?
- The word almádena likely traces its roots back to the Ancient Greek word πατάνη, which actually refers to a 'flat dish' rather than a heavy tool.
- The specialized term almádena has an Andalusian Arabic origin, reflecting the historical influence of Arabic on the tools used in Southern Spain.
- In some historical contexts, the word almádena is associated with the mining regions of Spain where heavy hammers were essential for extracting minerals.
Examples in context
- El obrero usó una maza para romper el hormigónThe worker used a sledgehammer to break the concrete
- Los trabajadores utilizaron una picota para demoler la paredThe workers used a sledgehammer to demolish the wall
- Voy a usar un mazo para arreglar el piso de maderaI'm going to use a sledgehammer to fix the wooden floor
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are renovating an old house.
- AlejandroSofía, ¿me pasas la almádena, por favor?Sofía, can you pass me the sledgehammer, please?
- SofíaEstá junto a la puerta, Alejandro.It is next to the door, Alejandro.
- AlejandroGracias, ahora puedo quitar este piso.Thanks, now I can remove this floor.
- SofíaTen cuidado con la almádena.Be careful with the sledgehammer.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sledgehammer” translations and entries almádena, mandarria, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries almádena, CC BY-SA 4.0.
