espada
/esˈpada/feminine
The English word "sword" is translated into Spanish as espada. Wiktionary also lists tizona.
Meaning: weapon (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| espada | /esˈpada/ | feminine |
| tizona | /tiˈθona/ /tiˈsona/ |
feminine |
The word espada is used for both historical/fantasy swords and for certain types of fencing foils. Other specific terms exist, such as el sable for a curved-blade saber, la claymore for the Scottish claymore sword and la espada toledana for a sword made in Toledo, Spain.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of espada is espadas.
How do you pronounce it?
/esˈpada/
When do people say it?
Tizona is the name of a legendary sword belonging to the Spanish hero El Cid.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, if you call someone an espada, you are not calling them a weapon, but rather a 'top-tier' or 'expert' in their field. It is a slang term for a highly skilled person.
- The term espada can also refer to a specific type of fish, the 'swordfish'. In many Spanish-speaking coastal regions, the word is more likely to evoke seafood than combat.
- The word espada shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'spade'. They both stem from ancient terms describing things that are flat or broad.
Examples in context
- No tengo una espada.I don't have a sword.This sentence is useful for practicing the negation of having a(n) espada.Tatoeba #9453357 by eltacodemex, translation #386506 by Dorenda
- La espada está afilada.The sword is sharp.This sentence is useful for describing the state of a(n) espada.Tatoeba #11745527 by Seael, translation #11734002 by ddnktr
- Chris blandió su espada.Chris swung his sword!This sentence is useful for describing the action of swinging a(n) espada.Tatoeba #582767 by Shishir, translation #422494 by blay_paul
- Me encanta leer sobre caballeros y espadas antiguas.I love reading about knights and ancient swords.
- El héroe desenvainó la espada y se preparó para la batalla.The hero unsheathed the sword and prepared for battle.
- 50 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and María are looking at museum exhibits.
- Daniel¿Es esa una espada real, María?Is that a real sword, María?
- MaríaSí, Daniel, es una espada de exhibición.Yes, Daniel, it is a display sword.
- DanielParece muy antigua y valiosa.It looks very old and valuable.
- MaríaSeguro que lo es.I'm sure it is.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sword” translations and entries espada, tizona, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries espada, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
