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pólvora

gunpowder

noun POHL-boh-rah Rare

Origin: From Latin pulvis (dust, powder).

Usage Note

Pólvora carries the accent on the first syllable, making it an esdrújula. The phrase no ha inventado la pólvora ('he didn't invent gunpowder') is a common idiom meaning someone is not particularly clever. It is also used loosely for fireworks powder in festival contexts across Latin America.

Examples

"La pólvora explotó con un gran estruendo."

Natural Translation

The gunpowder exploded with a great bang.

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