Agujero vs hueco
Both mean "hole"...I'm trying to figure out if there is a difference. "Hueco" = a gap between two things? "Agujero" = more like a hole in the ground or in clothing?
7 Answers
Your guess is almost right on! A traditional translation for hueco is "hollow space," since if you look at the same word as an adjective, it means "hollow." "Agujero" is more like a hole pierced through a flat material, like a hole that a needle would make. Hence, la aguja makes el agujero. However, there is some overlap although these are the most common connotations
Hi, DR!
When both mean hole (because hueco is also an adjective meaning empty), the difference is that agujero focus on the hole from the surface, whereas hueco focus on the hole from the empty space inside.
When you say agujero, you only think of a surface that is "broken". A hueco, on the other hand, refers to the cavity inside.
Segun la rae
agujero. (De aguja).1. m. Abertura más o menos redondeada en alguna cosa
A hole in something. Could be a perforation, ie. with agujero I believe the hole may or may not go right through to the other side of something, like a hole in the wall..
Eg. Una caries es una mancha blanda o un pequeño agujero en un diente.
A cavity is a soft spot or small hole in your tooth.
hoyo
.1.m. Concavidad u hondura formada en la tierra.2. m. Concavidad que como defecto hay en algunas superficies.
A hole, a pit, a golf hole etc. As far as i understand a hoyo isn't the kind of hole that goes right through something, like a hole in the wall can.
hueco, ca. (Der. del lat. occ?re, ahuecar la tierra rastrillándola).1. adj. Que tiene vacío el interior.
Gap, Space, Hollow etc
Eg. adj (árbol, diente, sonido) hueco,-a:
Se escondió en el hueco del ascensor.
He hid himself in the lift shaft. (The space where the lift goes.)
The tree is hollow inside.
El árbol está hueco por dentro
In Chile also is used with that meaning (homosexual) since I remember.... and I am 59 y.o. ...
Now, you don't have to be socially aware in order to say or not say hueco.
If you are talking about a homosexual and use hueco, that may be considered offensive, else if you are referring to a hole or an aperture of some kind... is not considered offensive.
Be careful with the word "hueco," as it is an offensive way to say homosexual in Guatemala, and to a lesser extent in Chile. Possibly in other countries too, but those are the only two that I know for sure use that as slang.
Be careful with the word "hueco," as it is an offensive way to say homosexual in Guatemala, and to a lesser extent in Chile. Possibly in other countries too, but those are the only two that I know for sure use that as slang.
Good to know, as much of my Spanish use in when I visit Guatemala every year or so. Is there an alternate word that isn't offensive?
Thanks for all of your responses. This makes complete sense to me now.
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