Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Screwdriver in Spanish: Destornillador — The Tool Every DIY Learner Needs
Destornillador · noun · dehs-tohr-nee-yah-DOHR
Screwdriver in Spanish is destornillador in Spain and much of South America. In Mexico and Central America, you will hear desarmador instead. Both words are correct and universally understood, so you can pick whichever matches your target dialect.
Destornillador is pronounced dehs-tohr-nee-yah-DOHR — five syllables with the stress on the last. Desarmador is pronounced deh-sahr-mah-DOHR.
Pásame el destornillador para apretar este tornillo.
Hand me the screwdriver to tighten this screw.
Screwdriver in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for screwdriver, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| destornillador | screwdriver | dehs-tohr-nee-yah-DOHR | Default, widely understood |
| desarmador | screwdriver | Mexico, Central America | |
| atornillador | screwdriver | some South American regions |
How Native Speakers Use Destornillador
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Home repair
¿Dónde dejaste el destornillador de estrella?
Where did you leave the Phillips-head screwdriver?
Destornillador de estrella specifically means a Phillips-head screwdriver.
Mexican Spanish
Compré un desarmador nuevo en la ferretería.
I bought a new screwdriver at the hardware store.
Desarmador is the preferred word in Mexico.
Cocktail
En el bar pedí un destornillador, que es vodka con jugo de naranja.
At the bar I ordered a screwdriver, which is vodka with orange juice.
Just like in English, destornillador is also the name of the classic vodka and orange juice cocktail.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Destornillador
Saying tornillador
Incorrect: Necesito un tornillador para esto.
Correct: Necesito un destornillador para esto.
Tornillador is not a standard Spanish word. The correct form is destornillador (from des- + tornillo + -ador, literally un-screwer). Do not drop the des- prefix.
Wrong gender
Incorrect: Dame la destornillador.
Correct: Dame el destornillador.
Destornillador is masculine. The correct article is el, not la. Similarly, desarmador is also masculine: el desarmador.
Lock in Screwdriver 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 Destornillador used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using destornillador in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Pásame el destornillador para apretar este tornillo. 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 Screwdriver in Spanish
- Should I learn destornillador or desarmador?
- Your choice between the two terms should match your target dialect. If you are learning Mexican Spanish, desarmador is the everyday word. If you are learning European or South American Spanish, destornillador is more common. Both are understood everywhere.
- How do I say Phillips-head vs. flat-head screwdriver?
- A Phillips-head screwdriver is destornillador de estrella (star screwdriver) or destornillador de cruz (cross screwdriver). A flat-head is destornillador plano or destornillador de pala (blade screwdriver).
- Where does the word destornillador come from?
- It comes from the verb destornillar (to unscrew), which itself is formed from des- (un-) + tornillo (screw). So destornillador literally means the thing that unscrews — even though we use it to screw things in too.