carretilla
/kareˈtiʝa/feminine
The Spanish word for wheelbarrow is carretilla. Wiktionary also lists carrucha.
Meaning: small cart (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| carretilla | /kareˈtiʝa/ | feminine |
| carrucha | /kaˈrut͡ʃa/ | Mexico, feminine |
A wheelbarrow is a small cart used for transporting loads. In Spanish, this is referred to as a carretilla.
Which one should you use?
carretilla is the standard term used across most of the Spanish-speaking world, whereas carrucha is a regional variant used in Mexico.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the term carrucha is used to refer to a wheelbarrow.
How does it change in a sentence?
carretilla is a feminine noun. Its plural form is carretillas.
How do you pronounce it?
/kareˈtiʝa/
Did you know?
- The root of carretilla and carrucha can be traced back to the Gaulish word karrosbor, which referred to a two-wheeled chariot.
- In Spanish, the word carreta is not just a larger version of a carretilla, but often refers specifically to a traditional ox-cart used in rural history.
- Spanish uses the suffix -illa in carretilla to create a diminutive, which can sometimes imply that the object is quaint or toy-like rather than just small.
Examples in context
- Ayer me robaron mi carretilla.Yesterday, my wheelbarrow was stolen.This sentence shows how to express that a carretilla was stolen.Tatoeba #5462980 by albrusgher, translation #3734790 by CK
- Tom llenó la carretilla con arena.Tom filled the wheelbarrow with sand.This sentence illustrates filling a carretilla with sand.Tatoeba #1288010 by marcelostockle, translation #1094092 by CK
- Ella se tropezó con una carretilla.She stumbled over a wheelbarrow.This sentence describes stumbling over a carretilla.Tatoeba #1941529 by hayastan, translation #987258 by CM
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are working in the garden.
- ElenaAlejandro, ¿dónde está la carretilla?Alejandro, where is the wheelbarrow?
- AlejandroEstá detrás del garaje, Elena.It is behind the garage, Elena.
- ElenaGracias, necesito llevar estas piedras.Thanks, I need to carry these stones.
- AlejandroYo te ayudo a empujar la carretilla.I will help you push the wheelbarrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wheelbarrow” translations and entries carretilla, carrucha, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries carretilla, carrucha, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
