Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Anchor in Spanish: Ancla
Ancla · noun · AHN-klah
The English word 'anchor' translates to ancla in Spanish when referring to the nautical device. For a TV news anchor, the word is presentador (masculine) or presentadora (feminine). Ancla is a feminine noun that, like ala, takes el in the singular due to its stressed initial 'a.'
Pronounce ancla as AHN-klah, stressing the first syllable.
El barco lanzó el ancla en la bahía.
The ship dropped anchor in the bay.
Anchor in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for anchor, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| ancla | anchor | AHN-klah | Default, widely understood |
| áncora | anchor | literary or nautical registers | |
| presentador/a | anchor | TV news anchor |
How Native Speakers Use Ancla
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Nautical use
Los marineros levantaron el ancla al amanecer.
The sailors raised the anchor at dawn.
Describing a maritime departure.
Metaphorical use
Mi familia es el ancla que me mantiene firme.
My family is the anchor that keeps me steady.
Using anchor figuratively for emotional support.
TV anchor
La presentadora del noticiero informó sobre el terremoto.
The news anchor reported on the earthquake.
Referring to a television journalist.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Ancla
Wrong article
Incorrect: La ancla es muy pesada.
Correct: El ancla es muy pesada.
Like other feminine nouns starting with a stressed 'a,' ancla takes el in the singular (el ancla) but remains feminine: el ancla pesada.
Using ancla for TV anchor
Incorrect: El ancla del noticiero habló sobre el tema.
Correct: El presentador del noticiero habló sobre el tema.
In Spanish, a TV news anchor is called presentador/a, not ancla, which only refers to the nautical device.
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See Ancla used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Anchor in Spanish
- How do you say 'anchor' in Spanish?
- The nautical anchor is ancla in Spanish, while a TV news anchor is presentador (male) or presentadora (female).
- Why does ancla use 'el' if it's feminine?
- Feminine nouns starting with a stressed 'a' take el in the singular to avoid the awkward la-a sound, but they remain grammatically feminine: el ancla pesada (the heavy anchor).
- What is the verb 'to anchor' in Spanish?
- The verb is anclar: el capitán ancló el barco (the captain anchored the ship), and it conjugates as a regular -ar verb.