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"Grifo" is a noun which is often translated as "faucet", and "llave" is a noun which is often translated as "key". Learn more about the difference between "grifo" and "llave" below.
el grifo(
gree
-
foh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (plumbing)
a. faucet (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Abrió el grifo pero no salía agua.She turned on the faucet, but no water came out.
a. gas station (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Paré en el grifo a cargar gasolina.I stopped at the gas station to get gas.
b. petrol station (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
No hay ni un grifo en este tramo de la carretera.There isn't a single petrol station in this section of the highway.
a. fire hydrant
Los bomberos utilizaron el grifo para apagar el incendio.The firefighters used the fire hydrant to extinguish the fire.
4. (mythology)
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
5. (hair) (Caribbean) (Mexico)
Regionalism used in the Caribbean: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
Regionalism used in Mexico
a. curly
Tiene pelo grifo pero le gustaría tenerlo lacio.She has curly hair, but she'd like it to be straight.
6. (colloquial) (stoned) (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. high (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Estaba tan grifo que no se dio cuenta de lo que hizo.He was so high that he didn't realize what he did.
7. (colloquial) (drunk) (Honduras) (Mexico)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Honduras
Regionalism used in Mexico
a. plastered (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Se puso grifo en la boda de su hermana.He got plastered at his sister's wedding.
a. snobbish
La gente grifa trata a todos como si fueran inferiores.Snobbish people treat everyone as if they were inferior.
la llave(
yah
-
beh
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
3. (tool)
a. wrench (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
¿No has visto la llave que dejé sobre la mesa de trabajo?Have you seen the wrench I left on the work table?
b. spanner (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Pásame la llave. Necesito apretar esta tuerca.Pass me the spanner. I need to tighten this nut.
a. curly bracket
Tienes que escribir una llave después de esta instrucción o el script no correrá.You have to close this statement with a curly bracket or the script won't run.
b. curly brace (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Escribe el conjunto matemático entre llaves.Write the mathematical set between curly braces.
