ventosa
/benˈtosa/feminine
The English phrase "suction cup" is translated into Spanish as ventosa.
The term ventosa refers to a cup that uses suction to adhere to a surface. Interestingly, this same word is also used as an anatomical term to describe a leech.
Meaning: cup using suction as an adhesive (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of ventosa is ventosas.
How do you pronounce it?
/benˈtosa/
Did you know?
- Because ventosa also means 'leech', a Spanish speaker might describe someone who drains others of their money or energy as a ventosa.
- Beyond tools and leeches, ventosa describes a traditional medical practice similar to cupping therapy, where heated glasses are applied to the skin to treat pain.
- If you are describing the sucker on the end of an octopus tentacle, a biologist would use ventosa just as they would for a household suction cup.
Examples in context
- El ingeniero utilizó una ventosa para realizar la prueba de sellado.The engineer used a suction cup to perform the sealing test.
- Compra varios chupones para colgar los adornos en la ventana.Buy several suction cups to hang the decorations on the window.
- Pega la ventosa al cristal.Stick the suction cup to the glass.
- La ventosa se rompió.The suction cup broke.
- Necesito una ventosa nueva para el cristal.I need a new suction cup for the glass.
- Coloca la ventosa con cuidado.Place the suction cup carefully.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are fixing a phone mount in the car.
- Lucía¿Dónde está la ventosa?Where is the suction cup?
- MateoEstá en la caja de herramientas, Lucía.It is in the toolbox, Lucía.
- Lucía¡Gracias! La ventosa no se pega bien.Thanks! The suction cup doesn't stick well.
- MateoDebes limpiar el parabrisas primero.You must clean the windshield first.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “suction cup” translations and entries ventosa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
