Spanish Military Vocabulary
Learn Spanish military vocabulary. This page contains a collection of words related to military topics translated from English to Spanish.
abrir fuego
open fire
The Spanish phrase 'abrir fuego' translates directly to 'open fire' in English. This phrase is often used in a military or action context to indicate the start of shooting or combat. However, it does not refer to the act of starting a literal fire. Instead, it's a metaphor for launching an aggressive action or attack, similar to the way one might 'ignite' or 'launch' an initiative or discussion.
Example sentences with abrir fuego →alcanzar la victoria
achieve victory
The Spanish phrase 'alcanzar la victoria' translates to 'achieve victory' in English. This verb phrase can be used in various contexts related to competition or struggle, including sports, business, or personal achievement. It signifies the process of striving towards and ultimately achieving a win or a successful outcome.
aliado
ally
The Spanish word 'aliado' translates to 'ally' in English. It can be used in many contexts, but generally refers to a person, group, or country that cooperates with or helps another in a particular activity. Depending on context, it can also refer to a partner or associate united with others for a common purpose or mutual benefit. Similar to English, it can be used to refer to military, political, or business alliances.
Example sentences with aliado →alistarse en el ejército
enlisting in the army
The phrase 'alistarse en el ejército' in Spanish translates to 'enlisting in the army' in English. It is used when someone intends to join or sign up to serve in the military forces, in this case, the army. This could be due to a sense of duty, patriotism or any other personal reason. The phrase can be broken down into 'alistarse', which means to enlist or sign up, 'en', meaning in, 'el', meaning the, and 'ejército', which means army.
Example sentences with alistarse en el ejército →alto el fuego
Stop the fire
'Alto el fuego' is a Spanish phrase which literally translates to 'stop the fire' in English. However, this phrase is more commonly used to mean 'ceasefire' in a military context. It refers to an agreement made between two or more parties to stop fighting or warfare for a certain period of time. It's not typically used to refer to extinguishing a physical fire.
Example sentences with alto el fuego →arma (semi)automática
weapon (semi)automatic
The Spanish term 'arma (semi)automática' translates to 'weapon (semi)automatic' in English. This refers to a type of firearm that reloads itself after each shot and fires again with each pull of the trigger. The '(semi)' indicates that the weapon fires one round for each trigger pull, as opposed to an 'automatic' weapon, which continues to fire rounds as long as the trigger is depressed and ammunition is available.
Example sentences with arma (semi)automática →arma atómica
atomic weapon
The term 'arma atómica' is a Spanish word that translates to 'atomic weapon' in English. This is a type of weapon that uses nuclear technology for its destructive power and is considered to be one of the most lethal weapons. The power of such a weapon comes from energy released through nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. The phrase 'arma atómica' is often used when referring to issues of international security and warfare.
Example sentences with arma atómica →arma biológica
biological weapon
The term 'arma biológica' in Spanish refers to a type of weapon that uses bacteria, viruses or other disease-causing biological agents. Commonly known as a 'biological weapon' in English, it is designed to kill or incapacitate people, animals or plants as an act of war. Biological weapons are often associated with terrorism and are considered a serious threat due to their potential to cause widespread illness and death.
Example sentences with arma biológica →arma de fuego
firearm
The Spanish term 'arma de fuego' translates to 'firearm' in English. Firearms are portable guns, weapons that launch one or more projectiles driven by rapidly expanding high-pressure gas produced by chemical reactions within a confined space. These weapons are seen in a variety of contexts including hunting, self-defense, and military use. The phrase 'arma de fuego' can refer to any type of firearm from small handguns to larger rifles and guns.
Example sentences with arma de fuego →arma nuclear
nuclear weapon
The Spanish phrase 'arma nuclear' translates to 'nuclear weapon' in English. In military terminology, a 'nuclear weapon' is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions. It can either be fusion or fission reactions or a combination of both. These reactions release a huge amount of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The term 'nuclear weapon' is often used to describe these types of devices, which have been utilized in warfare and pose significant global risks.
Example sentences with arma nuclear →arma química
chemical weapon
The term 'arma química' refers to a complex system that uses chemicals formulated to cause death or harm on a large scale. A chemical weapon is typically a weaponized version of a toxic chemical or its precursor, designed to inflict damage in warfare or terrorist activities. These can be volatile substances, gases, or small particles spread through air, water, or even on surfaces, affecting the skin. Humanitarian laws universally condemn their use due to their indiscriminate nature and long-lasting effects.
Example sentences with arma química →asaltar
to assault
The Spanish word 'asaltar' translates to 'assault' in English. This verb is often used in contexts where a violent or sudden attack is involved. For instance, this could refer to a physical attack on a person, or figuratively, a sudden unexpected disruption or disturbing event that metaphorically 'attacks' a situation. It's crucial to note that the term 'asaltar', like many verbs, can hold slightly different connotations depending on the context in which it's used.
Example sentences with asaltar →asalto
Assault
The Spanish word 'asalto' translates to 'assault' in English. This can be used in a variety of contexts, but often refers to a violent physical or verbal attack. In English, 'assault' can also have legal implications, as it is considered a criminal act. Similarly, 'asalto' could be used to describe a military attack, as the concept of 'assault' in English is broad and can apply to both personal and institutional aggressions. It is important to note the serious nature of this word in both languages.
Example sentences with asalto →ataque
attack
The Spanish term for 'attack' is 'ataque'. This word can be used in various contexts such as a physical or verbal action against someone or something, a sudden illness like a heart 'ataque', in sport events to refer an offensive action or in computer systems to refer to malicious activities. Just like in English, 'ataque' carries a similar usage and connotation in the Spanish language.
Example sentences with ataque →bala
Bullet
The Spanish word 'bala' translates to 'bullet' in English. It is a noun and frequently used in contexts related to firearms, warfare, or crime. For instance, when talking about guns and their use, 'bala' would be a common term. However, it might also be found metaphorically in other contexts. The pronunciation is similar to the English 'baha'.
Example sentences with bala →barrica
barrel
The Spanish word 'barrica' translates to 'barrel' in English. It is often used to refer to a cylindrical container that is generally used for storing and aging beverages, especially wine. It comes from the Spanish word 'barril' which means barrel. It originates from the Latin word 'barrica' which also means barrel. This term is widely used in contexts concerning the wine industry or beverage production.
batalla
battle
The Spanish word 'batalla' translates to 'battle' in English. It is a noun, often used in various contexts, such as to describe a combat, conflict or struggle, either amongst individuals, teams, or nations. Similar to its English counterpart, 'batalla' can also be used metaphorically, referrering to a challenging personal ordeal or difficult experience.
Example sentences with batalla →bomba
Pump
The Spanish word 'bomba' translates to 'pump' in English. It can be used in various contexts such as water pump (bomba de agua), air pump (bomba de aire), or fuel pump (bomba de combustible). However, 'bomba' can also mean 'bomb' depending on the context.
Example sentences with bomba →bombardear
to bomb
The Spanish verb 'bombardear' translates directly to 'to bomb' in English. It can be used in both literal and figurative contexts. In a literal sense, it is used to describe the act of dropping explosives from an aircraft or other high position with the intention to cause damage or destruction, like in a war setting. In a figurative context, 'bombardear' could mean to bombard someone with information or questions, just like 'to bomb' is used in English.
Example sentences with bombardear →capitán
captain
The word 'capitán' in Spanish translates to 'captain' in English. It is commonly used in contexts involving military ranks or describing the person in charge of a group or team. It can also refer to the person commanding a ship or aircraft. Just like in English, 'capitán' can be used both as a form of address and as a description of someone's role.
Example sentences with capitán →comandante
Commander
The Spanish word 'comandante' is a noun typically used to refer to a high-ranking officer in the military. Depending on the context, it can mean 'commander', 'commandant', or 'commanding officer' in English. It's commonly used in formal or militaristic contexts where one needs to refer to a person who has authority over a group of people in a structured organization, such as the army, navy, or air force.
Example sentences with comandante →combate
combat
The Spanish word 'combate' translates to 'combat' in English. It can refer to a fight, battle, or struggle, particularly in a physical or military context. It's usually used to describe situations of conflict where there's some form of aggression or combativeness involved. The word can also be used metaphorically to describe non-physical struggles, such as a combat against time or against a disease.
Example sentences with combate →conflicto (bélico)
conflict (war)
The term 'conflicto (bélico)' in Spanish translates to 'conflict (war)' in English. It references a state of open, often prolonged, fighting between nations, states, or parties, famously known as war situations, in an effort to resolve differences or confront issues. The concept isusually associated with political disagreements, territorial disputes, economic competition or social discord.
Example sentences with conflicto (bélico) →confrontación
confrontation
The Spanish term 'confrontación' translates to 'confrontation' in English. 'Confrontation' refers to a situation where there is a direct conflict, opposition, or disagreement between two parties. This could be a verbal disagreement, a physical fight, or a conflict of ideas. It's often used in contexts where tensions are high and can be between individuals or groups.
Example sentences with confrontación →conquista
Conquest
The Spanish word 'conquista' translates to 'conquest' in English. A 'conquest' is the act of acquiring by force of arms, winning by struggle, or overcoming an opposition; in historical contexts, it can refer to territorial acquisitions during war or explorations. 'Conquista' also carries these meanings in a Spanish context, so it can describe anything from winning a sports game to conquering a land.
Example sentences with conquista →conquistar
conquer
The Spanish term 'conquistar' translates to 'conquer' in English. This verb is often used in various contexts such as historical events, personal achievements or territory acquisition. The term suggests a sense of overcoming, winning, or attaining supremacy over something or someone. It has the same implications of dominance, success over challenges, or authority, akin to the English word 'conquer'.
Example sentences with conquistar →consejo de guerra
War Council
The Spanish term 'consejo de guerra' translates into English as 'war council'. This phrase is often used in military context to refer to a group of military leaders who make important decisions about war strategy, policy, and operations. A war council is a group that usually consists of high-ranking military officials and, at times, political leaders as well. They gather to discuss, plan, and sometimes decide about matters pertaining to war. However, beyond the literal meaning, 'consejo de guerra' can also be used metaphorically in certain situations where important decisions need to be taken collectively, even outside of a military context.
Example sentences with consejo de guerra →crimen de guerra
war crime
The Spanish term 'crimen de guerra' translates to 'war crime' in English. A war crime is a serious violation of the laws of war that gives rise to individual criminal responsibility. Examples of such conduct include 'murder, the ill-treatment or deportation of civilian residents of an occupied territory to slave labor camps', 'the murder or ill-treatment of prisoners of war', the killing of prisoners, 'the wanton destruction of cities, towns and villages, and any devastation not justified by military, or civilian necessity'.
Example sentences with crimen de guerra →declarar la guerra
declare war
'Declarar la guerra' is a Spanish phrase that directly translates to 'declare war' in English. This is often used in political or historical context when one country officially announces the initiation of hostilities against another. It may also be used metaphorically in conversations to signify the beginning of intense conflicts or disputes in personal or professional situations.
Example sentences with declarar la guerra →defender
defend
The Spanish word 'defender' translates to 'defend' in English. It is derived from the Latin word 'defendere'. The term 'defender' is a verb and it signifies the act of resisting an attack made on someone or something; to protect from harm or danger. In other contexts, it can also mean to support or maintain a principle or law, or to assert something in the face of opposition or criticism.
Example sentences with defender →