Guide to Key Spanish Words for Construction
How to communicate with a Spanish-speaking construction crew.
Bradley Hartmann & Company has specialized in developing memorable and brief guides for construction professionals to learn a 2nd language in a way that is directly applicable to their daily work. See our 6-week Construction Spanish class to go deeper with our professional training program, or check out any of Bradley’s books for more help learning Construction Spanish.
In this guide, we will break out a few key chapters from our workbooks and training materials to offer a quick reference guide to fast-track the most important terms and phrases you should know.
6 Week Spanish Course Books
Books are only available in the respective 6-Week Spanish course.
Guide Quick Links:
From Chapter 1 of Construction Spanish
Core Terms You Just Gotta Know
Welcome to the essential section of our guide, aptly titled "Core Terms You Just Gotta Know." In the dynamic world of construction, effective communication is key, and understanding basic Spanish terms is invaluable for seamless collaboration on the job site. This section serves as your linguistic compass, offering straightforward translations from Spanish to English for core construction terms. Whether you're a seasoned professional looking to brush up on your language skills or a newcomer navigating the construction scene, these fundamental terms will empower you to bridge language gaps and enhance your ability to work harmoniously with Spanish-speaking colleagues in the construction industry.
In the grids below, we’ve identified several “Spanish Twins.” These are words in Spanish that are nearly the same—and often identical—to their counterparts in English. The exciting thing is there are hundreds of Spanish Twins relevant to construction and focusing on them first will greatly speed your language acquisition.
| Term | Pronunciation | Meaning | How to Remember |
|---|---|---|---|
| la seguridad | (sah-goo-ree-DAHD) | safety | Think security. |
| seguro/a | (say-GOOH-roh) | safe | Again, think of secure. |
| importante | (eem-pohr-TAHN-tay) | important | It’s a Spanish Twin! |
| ¡Cuidado! | (kwee-DAH-doh) | Be careful! | Using this daily makes a shortcut unnecessary. |
| ¡Mira! | (MEE-rah) | Look | Just look in the mira. |
| ¿Cómo se dice? | (KOH-moh say DEE-say) | How do you say? | This is a Power phrase. Use daily. |
| despacio | (day-SPAH-see-oh) | Slowly | Justin Bieber says, "Despacito." |
| Por favor. | (POHR fah-BOHR) | Please | Please for a favor. |
| Repítelo. | (ray-PEE-tay-loh) | Repeat it | Spanish Twin. Use with por favor. |
Core Verbs to Know
Mastering the language of construction goes beyond nouns – it involves commanding the core verbs that drive the building process. In this section, we reveal the essential action words, providing concise translations from Spanish to English for the key verbs that are integral to effective communication on any job site.
| Verb | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| mover | (moh-BAYR) | To move |
| usar | (ooh-SAHR) | To use |
| instalar | (een-stah-LAHR) | To install |
| reparar | (ray-pah-RAHR) | To repair |
| comenzar | (koah-mayn-SAHR) | To commence (start) |
| terminar | (tayr-mee-NAHR) | To terminate (finish) |
Scheduling & Days of the Week
In the fast-paced realm of construction, mastering these elements is paramount for orchestrating a seamless workflow. From understanding the days of the week in Spanish to navigating time-related terms, this segment equips you with the linguistic tools needed to efficiently manage construction timelines and synchronize efforts with precision.
Keep in mind the days of the week in Spanish are not capitalized. (Weird, but true.)
| Day | Pronunciation | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| lunes | (LOOH-nays) | Monday |
| martes | (MAHR-tays) | Tuesday |
| miercoles | (mee-AYR-koh-lays) | Wednesday |
| jueves | (HWAY-vays) | Thursday |
| viernes | (bee-AYR-nays) | Friday |
| sabado | (SAH-bah-doh) | Saturday |
| domingo | (doh-MEEN-goh) | Sunday |
| Term | Pronunciation | Translation, How to Remember |
|---|---|---|
| el horario | (oh-RAH-ree-oh) | Schedule: Hora = hour. Araríiop = river un rio (Horario = river of hours) |
| ¿Qué hora es? | (kay OH-rah AYS) | What hora is it? |
| Hoy | (OY) | ¿OY Qué es hoy? It’s today. |
| Mañana | (mahn-YAH-nah) | Tomorrow, morning: it’s a 2-fer-uno. |
| Ahora | (ah-OH-rah) | Now: a generalized now, now-ish. |
| Ahorita | (ow-REE-tah) | Right now: now, but smaller = immediately. |
| Todavía | (toah-dah-BEE-ah) | Still: totally todavía behind schedule hoy. |
| La hora extra | (OH-rah AYKS-trah) | OT: an extra hour, quite literally. |
| Antes de | (AHN-tays day) | Prefix ante = before: poker ante, anticipate. |
| Después de | (day-SPWAYS day) | After: Después de lonche, puedes moverlo. |
| El reloj | (ray-LOH) | Clock, watch: Ray watched el reloj. |
| El descanso | (day-SKAHN-soh) | Rest, break: A chance to day-scan, to relax. |
| Hasta luego. | (AH-stah looh-WAY-goh) | Until later: literally both useful in their own right. Also, se Hasta mañana. |
Tools of the Trade
From the foundational gadgets that shape every project to the specialized gear that defines each trade, understanding the names and functions of these tools is indispensable. This section serves as your guide to the diverse array of instruments essential for any construction activity, providing a linguistic bridge between English and Spanish to ensure clear communication on the construction site .
Common Construction Tools in Spanish:
| Term | Pronunciation | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| la herramienta | (ay-rrah-mee-AYN-tah) | Tool |
| La sierra | (see-AY-rrah) | Saw: All-new GMC Saw Pickup! |
| el serrucho | (say-ROOH-choh) | Handsaw: Un primo (cousin) de la sierra. |
| el marró | (MAH-rroh) | Sledge: Un marro will mar your face. |
| el martillo | (mahr-TEE-yoah) | Hammer: A mini-marro. |
| la pistola | (pee-STOH-laah) | Pistol, gun: Anything gun-like you see on the job. |
| la pala | (PAH-lah) | Shovel: La pala is your best pal, your Pal A. Not Pal B or Pal C. Pal A. |
| la escoba | (ay-SKOH-bah) | Broom: Narco-king Pablo Escobar rocking una escoba mustache. |
| la navaja | (nah-BAH-hah) | Knife: Los Navajos usan navajas. |
| El taladro | (tah-LAH-droh) | Drill |
| El dril | (DREEL) | Drill: Spanglish Twin! |
| El generador | (hay-nay-rah-DOHR) | Generator: Spanish Twin! |
| El compresor | kohm-pray-SOHR) | Compressor: Spanish Twin! |
From Chapter 2 of Construction Spanish
Core PPE Terms
Now let’s dive into the critical realm of safety with our dedicated section on Core Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). In the construction industry, everyone is responsible for safety, and understanding the essential PPE is necessary. This section equips you with the knowledge to navigate the names and purposes of key protective gear, bridging the language gap between English and Spanish to prioritize safety on every construction site.
| Term | Pronunciation | Meaning | How to Remember |
|---|---|---|---|
| el casco | (KAH-skoh) | Hardhat | Wear your casco to Costco. |
| el chaleco | (chah-LAY-koh) | Safety vest | Cha-lay Brown wearing his chaleco. |
| los guantes | (GWAHN-tays) | Gloves | No necesitas guantes en Guam. |
| las tapones | (tah-POH-nays) | Earplugs | Just tap on your tapones. |
| la máscara | (MAHS-kah-rah) | Dust mask | Apply your mascara wearing una máscara. |
| el arnés | (ahr-NAYS) | Harness | Drop the H and the S. |
| los lentes | (LAYN-tays) | Safety glasses | Lenses with a T in place of the S. |
Things You need
| Verb | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Necesito | (nay-say-SEE-toh) | I need / Do I need? |
| Necesitas | (nay-say-SEE-tahs) | You need / Do you need? |
| Necesita | (nay-say-SEE-tah) | S/he needs / Does s/he need? |
| Necesitamos | (nay-say-see-TAH-mohs) | We need / Do we need? |
| Necesitan | (nay-say-SEE-than) | They need / Do they need? |
Terms for Excavation Teams
Unearth the language of excavation in this section dedicated to excavation terms. Whether you're a seasoned excavator or a newcomer to the world of earth-moving, understanding the terminology is crucial for effective communication on the job site. From foundational digging techniques to equipment specifics, this section provides a comprehensive translation guide from Spanish to English, empowering you with the vocabulary necessary to communicate well regardless of the excavation work being done.
| Spanish | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Excavar | (ayk-skah-BAHR) | To excavate: All verbs end in -AR, -ER, or -IR. |
| La excavación | (ayk-skah-vah-see-OHN) | Excavation: SEE it, OWN it, ex-ca-va-see-OWN. |
| La excavadora | (ayk-skah-vah-DOH-rah) | Excavator: Dora the Explorer en la excavadora. |
| La máquina | (MAH-kee-nah) | Machine: A wonderful catch-all Spanish Twin. |
| El montón | (mohn-TOHN) | Pile: Think “mountain.” |
| La tierra | (tee-AY-rah) | Earth, dirt: Terra firma, Latin anyone? |
| El suelo | (SWAY-loh) | Ground: Sin el suelo, you will sway low and fall. |
| La roca | (ROH-kah) | The rock—Dwayne Johnson—es La Roca. |
| El agua | (AH-gwah) | Water: Bruce Lee says, “Be like agua.” |
| El lodo | (LOH-doh) | Mud: Removing lodo will make you low on dough (it’s rather expensive to remove mud). |
Drainage Terms
This section offers translations from Spanish to English for key drainage terms. Whether you're managing stormwater, understanding pipe systems, or implementing proper grading, this guide ensures you have the language skills to navigate drainage projects with confidence.
| Term | Pronunciation | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| La cerca | (SAYR-kah) | Fence: Sara built that cerca. It’s a super cerca, ¿si? |
| El drenaje | (dray-NAH-hay) | Drainage: Let's drain it, hey! |
| El tubo | (TOOH-boh) | Tube: Drop the E, add an O. -style Spanish Twin! |
| La alacantarilla | (ahli-kahn-tah-REE-yah) | Sewer: Name that song lyric: “I don't practice alcantarilla. I ain't got no crystal ball..” |
| El estanque | (ay -STAHN-kay) | Pond: Oof. That is one stanky estanque. |
| Alrededor de | (ahl-ray-day-DOHR) | Around: La cerca alrededor del estanque. |
Foundation
A strong foundation is paramount and comprehending the language associated with foundation work is crucial for success in the construction industry. This section provides a comprehensive guide, offering translations from Spanish to English for key foundation-related terms. Whether you're excavating, pouring footings, or evaluating load-bearing structures, this guide equips you with the vocabulary necessary to communicate effectively and ensure a solid foundation for your project.
| Term | Pronunciation | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| los zapatos | (sah-PAH-tohs) | Shoes: A linguistic setup for las zapatas. |
| las zapatas | (sah-PAH-tahs) | Footings: Like a un zapato, but for the foundation wall. |
| el base | (BAH-say) | Identical Spanish Twin! Base: Footing |
| las formas | (FOHR-mahs) | Forms: Hola, Spanish Twin. |
| el varilla | (bah-REE-yah) | Rebar: Varilla, the best-tasting rebar in Italy. |
| la bomba | (BOHM-bah) | Pump, -bomb: Richie Valens was la bomba! |
| la pared | (pah-RAYD) | Wall: Look PA, a red wall! |
| la losa | (LOH-sah) | Slab: Sammy Sosa demands a lovely losa. (It rhymes.) |
Materials & Structure
| Term | Pronunciation | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| el acero | (ah-SAY-roh) | Steel |
| la viga | (BEE-gah) | Beam, girder: A beam es una viga. |
| la vigueta | (bee-GAY-tah) | Joist: “Vigueta. I will call you mini-viga.” |
| la grúa | (GROOH-ah) | Crane: La grúa grew overnight. |
| el equipo | (ay-KEE-poh) | Equipment, team: Sí, a 2-fer-uno. |
| el material | (mah-tay-ree-AHL) | Material: Useful C’mon, vato. Identical Spanish Twin! |
| asegurar | (ah-say-gooh-RAHR) | To secure: Place an A in front, G in the middle. |
| la carga | (KAHR-gah) | Load: Think of la carga like your cargo. |
| Oye. | (OY-yay) | Hey: Oye amigo. ¿Dónde está la carga? |
Structural Components
| Term | Pronunciation | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| la tabla | (TAH-blah) | Board: A table is made up of tablas. |
| la madera | (mah-DAY-rah) | Wood, lumber |
| el piso | (PEE-soh) | Floor: Why do kids pee so much on el piso? |
| la pared | (pah-RAYD) | Wall: Look PA, a RED Wall |
| el techo | (TAY-choh) | Roof, Ceiling: Techo two times |
| la ventana | (bayn-TAH-nah) | Window: Like a vent, and so much more! |
| la puerta | (PWAYR-tah) | Door: Una puerta is a portal to someplace else. |
| el pasillo | (pah-SEE-yah) | Hallway: You pass people en el pasillo. |
| el baño | (BAHN-yoh) | Bathroom: Given human physiology, ¿Dónde está el baño? Is often one of the first phrases learned. |
