How do you say 'door knob' in Spanish?

It depends on the region: perilla de la puerta is common in many Latin American countries, pomo de la puerta is used in Spain, and manija de la puerta is preferred in Mexico and Central America.

Is there a difference between perilla, pomo, and manija?

All three refer to the handle on a door, but pomo and perilla typically describe a round knob, while manija can also refer to a lever-style handle.

How do I say 'door handle' in Spanish?

For a lever-style handle, manija or manilla is most appropriate, while pomo and perilla refer specifically to the round knob style.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

Door Knob in Spanish: Perilla de la Puerta

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Perilla De La Puerta · noun · peh-REE-yah deh lah PWEHR-tah

Perilla de la puerta is one of several Spanish terms for door knob, the round handle used to open and close a door.

peh-REE-yah deh lah PWEHR-tah

La perilla de la puerta está trabada.

The door knob is stuck.

Door Knob in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for door knob, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
perilla de la puerta	door knob	peh-REE-yah deh lah PWEHR-tah	Default, widely understood
pomo de la puerta	door knob		Spain
manija de la puerta	door knob		Mexico, Central America

How Native Speakers Use Perilla De La Puerta

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Home repair

Tenemos que cambiar el pomo de la puerta porque está roto.

We need to replace the door knob because it's broken.

Discussing home maintenance tasks.

Description

La manija de la puerta es de bronce antiguo.

The door knob is antique bronze.

Describing interior design details.

Instruction

Gira la perilla de la puerta hacia la derecha para abrirla.

Turn the door knob to the right to open it.

Helping someone unfamiliar with a tricky door.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Perilla De La Puerta

Using knob directly

Incorrect: El knob de la puerta no funciona.

Correct: La perilla de la puerta no funciona.

Knob is not a Spanish word — use perilla, pomo, or manija depending on your region.

Omitting de la puerta when needed for clarity

Incorrect: Compré una perilla nueva. (ambiguous)

Correct: Compré una perilla de la puerta nueva.

Perilla alone can mean a small knob, dial, or even a goatee — adding de la puerta specifies it as a door knob.

Lock in Door Knob Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Perilla De La Puerta used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using perilla de la puerta in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear La perilla de la puerta está trabada. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About Door Knob in Spanish

How do you say 'door knob' in Spanish?: It depends on the region: perilla de la puerta is common in many Latin American countries, pomo de la puerta is used in Spain, and manija de la puerta is preferred in Mexico and Central America.
Is there a difference between perilla, pomo, and manija?: All three refer to the handle on a door, but pomo and perilla typically describe a round knob, while manija can also refer to a lever-style handle.
How do I say 'door handle' in Spanish?: For a lever-style handle, manija or manilla is most appropriate, while pomo and perilla refer specifically to the round knob style.