Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Shotgun in Spanish: Escopeta
Escopeta · noun · ehs-koh-PEH-tah
Escopeta is the Spanish word for shotgun, a long-barreled firearm that fires multiple pellets or a single slug. The term applies to all shotgun types, from hunting models to sporting clay guns. It is distinct from rifle (which fires a single bullet through a rifled barrel) and pistola (a handgun).
Four syllables: ehs-koh-PEH-tah, stress on the third syllable. The 'sc' blend is pronounced like 'sk' in all regions.
Mi abuelo guarda una escopeta antigua en el armario.
My grandfather keeps an antique shotgun in the cabinet.
shotgun in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for shotgun, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| escopeta | shotgun | ehs-koh-PEH-tah | Default, widely understood |
| shotgun | shotgun | anglicism sometimes used in informal speech |
How Native Speakers Use Escopeta
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
hunting
Usamos escopetas de calibre doce para la cacería de patos.
We used twelve-gauge shotguns for duck hunting.
Escopeta is standard in hunting contexts.
sports
Practica tiro al plato con una escopeta semiautomática.
She practices skeet shooting with a semi-automatic shotgun.
Sporting shotguns use the same word.
rural life
En el rancho siempre hay una escopeta por si aparecen coyotes.
At the ranch there's always a shotgun in case coyotes appear.
Rural contexts normalize the term.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Escopeta
escopeta vs rifle
Incorrect: Disparó con una escopeta de mira telescópica a larga distancia.
Correct: Disparó con un rifle de mira telescópica a larga distancia.
Escopetas are short-range weapons firing spread shot — long-distance precision shooting with a scope describes a rifle, not a shotgun.
pistola confusion
Incorrect: Sacó su escopeta de la funda en la cintura.
Correct: Sacó su pistola de la funda en la cintura.
A weapon carried in a waist holster is a pistola (handgun) — an escopeta is far too large to be worn on the belt.
Lock in shotgun Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
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See Escopeta used by native speakers
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Common Questions About shotgun in Spanish
- What does 'calling shotgun' translate to in Spanish?
- The English expression 'calling shotgun' (claiming the front passenger seat) does not have a direct equivalent in most Spanish-speaking countries. People typically say 'voy adelante' (I'm going in front) or '¡pido el asiento de adelante!' (I call the front seat).
- How do I say 'double-barrel shotgun' in Spanish?
- A double-barrel shotgun is an escopeta de doble cañón or escopeta de dos cañones. Hunters might also call it a escopeta yuxtapuesta (side-by-side) or superpuesta (over-under) depending on barrel configuration.
- Is escopeta feminine or masculine?
- Escopeta is a feminine noun, so it takes the article la and feminine adjectives: la escopeta nueva (the new shotgun), una escopeta ligera (a lightweight shotgun).