Spanish vocabulary · Intermediate
Wrench in Spanish: Llave Inglesa and Llave de Tuercas
Llave Inglesa · noun (feminine) · YAH-veh een-GLEH-sah
Wrench in Spanish is llave inglesa (YAH-veh een-GLEH-sah) for an adjustable wrench, or llave de tuercas for a box/socket wrench. In a workshop context, just llave often suffices. Note that llave also means key or faucet tap.
Llave is YAH-veh (the ll sounds like y). Inglesa is een-GLEH-sah.
Pásame la llave inglesa para apretar este tornillo.
Hand me the wrench to tighten this bolt.
Wrench in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for wrench, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| llave inglesa | wrench | YAH-veh een-GLEH-sah | Default, widely understood |
| llave | wrench | wrench (short form, context-dependent) | |
| llave de tuercas | wrench | wrench for nuts and bolts | |
| llave española | wrench | open-end wrench |
How Native Speakers Use Llave Inglesa
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Adjustable wrench
Necesito una llave inglesa para arreglar la tubería.
I need an adjustable wrench to fix the plumbing.
Llave inglesa is the standard adjustable/crescent wrench.
Socket wrench
Usa la llave de tuercas para aflojar esa tuerca.
Use the wrench to loosen that nut.
Llave de tuercas is a wrench designed for nuts and bolts.
At the mechanic
El mecánico sacó una llave del tamaño correcto.
The mechanic pulled out a wrench of the right size.
In a workshop, llave alone means wrench from context.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Llave Inglesa
Confusing llave (wrench) with llave (key)
Incorrect: Perdí mi llave. (meaning wrench, but heard as key)
Correct: Perdí mi llave inglesa.
Llave alone defaults to key or faucet in most contexts. Add inglesa or de tuercas to specify the tool.
Assuming wrench has a direct cognate
Incorrect: El renche.
Correct: La llave inglesa.
There is no Spanish cognate of 'wrench.' The tool is named after the key (llave) because of its gripping shape.
Lock in Wrench 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 Llave Inglesa used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using llave inglesa in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Pásame la llave inglesa 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 Wrench in Spanish
- How do you say wrench in Spanish?
- Wrench is llave inglesa (adjustable wrench) or llave de tuercas. In a tool context, just llave works.
- Why is it called llave inglesa?
- Llave means key, and the adjustable wrench was called 'English key' (llave inglesa) because it was popularized by English manufacturers. The name stuck across Spanish-speaking countries.
- How do I say Allen wrench in Spanish?
- An Allen wrench is una llave Allen or una llave hexagonal (hex key). The brand name Allen is used internationally.