Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Shot in Spanish: Disparo
Disparo · noun · dees-PAH-roh
Shot is one of the trickiest English words to translate because Spanish uses entirely different words depending on the type of shot. Disparo or tiro refers to a gunshot, trago is a shot of liquor, inyección is a medical shot, and tiro also works for a shot in sports. Choosing the wrong one can lead to serious misunderstandings.
Disparo is dees-PAH-roh; trago is TRAH-goh; tiro is TEE-roh; inyección is een-yek-SYOHN.
Se escuchó un disparo a lo lejos durante la noche.
A shot was heard in the distance during the night.
Shot in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for shot, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| disparo | shot | dees-PAH-roh | Default, widely understood |
| trago | shot | a shot of alcohol | |
| tiro | shot | a shot in sports, or a gunshot | |
| inyección | shot | a medical shot or injection |
How Native Speakers Use Disparo
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
A shot of liquor
Pedimos un trago de tequila para celebrar la buena noticia.
We ordered a shot of tequila to celebrate the good news.
Trago is the standard word for a shot of alcohol at a bar.
A sports shot
El delantero lanzó un tiro potente que entró por la esquina.
The forward launched a powerful shot that went in through the corner.
Tiro is used for shots in soccer, basketball, and other sports.
A medical injection
La enfermera me puso una inyección contra la gripe sin que me doliera.
The nurse gave me a flu shot without it hurting.
Inyección is the correct medical term for a shot or vaccination.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Disparo
Using disparo for a drink
Incorrect: Dame un disparo de vodka.
Correct: Dame un trago de vodka.
Disparo means a gunshot. Asking for a disparo of vodka sounds like you are requesting a bullet fired at alcohol. Use trago for a shot of liquor.
Using tiro for a vaccination
Incorrect: Me dieron un tiro en el brazo en la clínica.
Correct: Me pusieron una inyección en el brazo en la clínica.
Tiro means gunshot or sports shot. Saying you received a tiro in your arm at the clinic implies you were shot with a weapon, not vaccinated.
Lock in Shot 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 Disparo used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using disparo in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Se escuchó un disparo a lo lejos durante la noche. 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 Shot in Spanish
- How do you say shot in Spanish?
- It depends entirely on the context. Disparo or tiro for a gunshot, trago for a shot of alcohol, tiro for a shot in sports, and inyección for a medical shot. There is no single Spanish word that covers all meanings.
- How do you order a shot at a bar in Spanish?
- Ask for un trago de followed by the spirit: un trago de tequila, un trago de mezcal. In some countries, you may also hear un shot (borrowed from English) in trendy bars, but trago is universally understood.
- What is the difference between disparo and tiro?
- Both can mean gunshot, but disparo emphasizes the act of firing (the discharge), while tiro emphasizes the projectile's path or the aim. In sports, tiro is the standard choice — el tiro libre means free throw — while disparo is rarely used outside firearm contexts.