Frequently Used Construction Industry Terms

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English to Spanish: Inglés a Español:

OSHA Dictionary Diccionario de OSHA

Frequently Used Construction Industry Términos frecuentemente utilizados en la
Terms Industria de la Construcción
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Pronunciation Guide Overview

Unlike English, Spanish spelling is very phonetic — that is, the letters consistently correspond to the same sounds. Some of those
sounds are difficult for an English-speaking tongue to handle, but fortunately, the resulting English accent won't usually get in the
way of understanding.

Spanish vowels are very short and pure compared to English ones. Even in unaccented syllables, they are pronounced clearly —
completely unlike in English, where unaccented vowels all sound like the vowel in but. You need to remember that there is no such
sound in Spanish. It may feel strange to pronounce every vowel, but Spanish won't work without doing it. Spanish vowels correspond
to the vowels in the following English words:

a = "father"
e = "bet"
i = "be"
o = "go"
u = "to"

Two vowels together can be more challenging. In this guide, the letters "w" and "y" are used to indicate when they glide together as
in some English words. For example:

ay = "side"
auw = "sound"
ie = "yen"
ey = "say"

No attempt is made in this pronunciation guide to approximate the real Spanish sounds of "b," "v," and "d," because trying to
remember to pronounce them correctly can be very distracting and make you self-conscious if you are a beginner. It may take time,
but you'll pick them up on your own by listening to others talk. Meanwhile, getting them wrong won't prevent others' understanding
of your meaning.

Another consonant sound that can be challenging for a native English speaker is the trilled "r," represented by rr. In this
pronunciation guide, the trill is approximated by repeating the "r" sound twice, as in [in-ter-rup-TOR] for interruptor.

You may be accustomed to seeing pocket pronunciation guides that use common words of English to approximate the sounds of
Spanish, like [deer-ek-SEE-yon] for dirección. We have avoided that approach for two reasons:

1. It perpetuates bad pronunciation of Spanish by not teaching you to keep your vowels short.
2. By relying on the un-phonetic and irregular spellings of English, it masks the regularity and predictability of the
pronunciation of Spanish, making it harder for you to learn.

Abatement (asbestos, lead, etc.) Remoción de riesgo (de asbesto, etc.) [re-mo-SYON de RYES-go]

Alive or live (energized) Vivo [VI-vo] (energizado [en-er-ji-SA-do]), caliente [ka-LYEN-te]

Anchorage Anclaje [an-KLA-he]

Asbestos Asbesto [as-BES-tos]

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Blue prints Planos [PLA-nos]

Bloodborne Acarreado por la sangre [a-kar-re-A-do por la SAN-gre], transmitido por la sangre
[trans-mi-TI-do por la SAN-gre]

Body belt Cinturón de seguridad [sin-tur-ON de se-gur-i-DAD]

Bulldozer Tractor con pala mecánica [trak-TOR kon PA-la me-KAN-i-ka], niveladora [ni-ve-la-
DOR-a]

Caught-in Atrapado [a-tra-PA-do], pillado [pi-YA-do], agarrado [a-gar-RA-do]

Caught-between Pillado [pi-YA-do]

Cave-in Derrumbe [der-RUM-be], desprendimiento [des-pren-di-MYEN-to], socavado [so-

ka-VA-do]

Centimeter Centímetro [sen-TI-me-tro]

Circuit breaker Interruptor automático [in-ter-rup-TOR auw-to-MA-ti-ko], interruptor de circuito

[in-ter-rup-TOR de sir-KWI-to]

Circular saw Sierra circular [si-ER-ra sir-ku-LAR]

Competent person Persona competente [per-SO-na kom-pe-TEN-te]

Concrete Concreto [kon-KRE-to], hormigón [or-mi-GON]

Conductor Alambre eléctrico [al-AM-bre e-LEK-tri-co], cable eléctrico [KA-ble e-LEK-tri-co]

Confined space Espacio restringido [es-PAS-io res-trin-HI-do], e. limitado [li-mi-TA-do], e.

encerrado [en-ser-RA-do], e. confinado [kon-fi-NA-do]

Connector (steel erection) Conector de acero estructural [ko-nek-TOR de a-SER-o]

Cord and plug Cordón y enchufe [kor-DON i en-CHU-fe]

Crane Grúa [GRU-a]

Cross brace Cruceta [kru-SET-a], refuerzo transversal [re-FUER-so trans-ver-SAL]

Cubic Cúbico [KU-bi-ko]

Cylinder Cilindro [si-LIN-dro]

Dead (deenergized) Sin energía [sin en-er-HI-a], muerto sin corriente [MWER-to sin kor-RYEN-to]

Deenergized Sin energía [sin en-er-HI-a], muerto sin corriente [MWER-to sin kor-RYEN-to]

Demolition Demolición [de-mo-li-SYON]

Demolition (wrecking) ball Bola de demolición [BO-la de de-mo-li-SYON]

Designated person Persona designada [per-SO-na de-sig-NA-da], persona autorizada [per-SO-na auw-
to-ri-SA-da]

Disconnect switch Interruptor [in-ter-rup-TOR], disyuntor [dis-yun-TOR], desconector [des-kon-ek-

TOR]

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Double insulated Doble aislamiento [DO-ble ays-la-MYEN-to]

Dee (D) ring Anillo en forma D [a-NI-yo en FOR-ma]

Dust Polvo [POL-vo]

Dust mask Máscara para el polvo [MAS-ka-ra PA-ra el POL-vo]

Ear plugs Tapones de oídos [ta-PON-es de OY-dos]

Electric cord Cable eléctrico [KA-ble e-LEK-tri-ko]

Electrical shock Choque eléctrico [CHO-ke e-LEK-tri-ko], sacudida eléctrica [sa-ku-DI-da e-LEK-tri-
ko]

Electricity Electricidad [e-lek-tri-si-DAD]

Electrocution Electrocución [e-lek-tro-ku-SYON]

Employee Empleado [em-ple-A-do], trabajador [tra-ba-ha-DOR], obrero [ob-re-ro]

Erection Armar [ar-MAR], izar [i-ZAR], levantar [le-VAN-tar], construir [kon-STRUYR]

Excavation Excavación [eks-ka-VA-syon]

Extension cord Extensión eléctrica [eks-ten-SYON e-LEK-tri-ka], cordón de extensión [kor-DON de

eks-ten-SYON]

Face (of excavation) Pared [PA-red], cara [KA-ra], lado [LA-do], talud [TA-lud]

Fall hazard Riesgo de caída [RYES-go de KAI-da], peligro de caída [pe-LI-gro de KAI-da]

Fall protection Protección contra caídas [pro-tek-SYON kon-tra KAI-das]

Fire alarm Alarma de fuego [a-LAR-ma de FWE-go], alarma de incendio [a-LAR-ma de in-SEN-
dyo]

Fire extinguisher Extintor [eks-tin-tor], extinguidor de fuego [eks-tin-gi-DOR de FWE-go]

First aid Primera ayuda [pri-ME-ra ai-U-da]

Flammable Inflamable [in-fla-MA-ble]

Foot protection Protección para pie [pro-tek-SYON PA-ra pye]

Gasoline Gasolina [gas-o-LI-na]

Ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) Interruptor de circuito con pérdida a tierra [in-ter-rup-TOR de sir-KI-to kon PER-di-
da a TYER-ra] , interruptor a tierra / fallo [in-ter-rup-TOR a TYER-ra / FA-yo]

Guard Guarda [WAR-da], resguardo [res-WAR-do]

Guardrail system Sistema de barandas [sis-TE-ma de bar-AN-das]

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Helmet Casco [KAS-ko]

Hole Hueco [WE-ko]

Inch Pulgada [pul-GA-da]

Inhalation Inhalar [in-al-AR], aspirar [as-pir-AR]

Insulation Aislamiento [ais-la-MYEN-to]

Label Etiqueta [e-ti-KE-ta]

Ladder Escalera portátil [es-ka-LE-ra por-TA-til], escala [es-KA-la]

Lanyard Cuerda de seguridad [KWER-da de se-gu-ri-DAD], cordón [kor-DON], pila [PI-la]

Life jacket Chaleco salvavidas [cha-LE-ko sal-va-VI-das]

Lifeline Cuerda salvavidas [KWER-da sal-va-VI-das], cuerda de seguridad [KWER-da de se-

gu-ri-DAD]

Lockout/tagout Interrupción de energía usando candado y etiqueta [in-ter-rup-SYON de en-er-HI-a

us-AN-do kan-DA-do i e-ti-KE-ta]

Manhole Registro [re-HIS-tro]

Masonry Albañilería [al-ban-yi-le-RI-a], mampostería [mam-pos-te-RI-a]

Means of egress Modo de salida [MO-do de sa-LI-da]

Measuring tape Cinta para medir [SIN-ta PA-ra ME-dir], cinta metro [SIN-ta ME-tro]

Meter Metro [ME-tro]

Motor vehicle Vehículo de motor [ve-I-ku-lo de MO-tor]

Noise Ruido [RWI-do]

Opening Abertura [a-ber-TUR-a], apertura [a-per-TUR-a]

Outlet Tomacorriente [to-ma-kor-RYEN-te], receptáculo [re-sep-TA-ku-lo]

Oxygen Oxígeno [ok-SI-he-no]

Oxygen deficient Deficiente en oxígeno [de-fi-SEN-te de ok-SI-he-no], nivel bajo de oxígeno [ni-VEL
BA-ho de ok-SI-he-no]

Permit required Permiso requerido [per-MI-so re-ke-RI-do]

Personal protective equipment Equipo de protección personal [e-KI-po de pro-tek-SYON per-son-AL]

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Plank (board) Tablón [tab-LON], tabla [TAB-la]

Platform Plataforma [plat-FOR-ma]

Plumbing Plomería [plo-me-RI-a]

Plywood Madera contrachapada [ma-DE-ra kon-tra-cha-PA-da], madera laminada [ma-DE-

ra la-mi-NA-da], madera fabricada [ma-DE-ra fab-ri-KA-da]

Powered industrial truck Camión industrial [kam-YON in-dus-TRYAL]

Pressure Presión [pre-SYON]

Propane Propano [pro-PA-no]

Qualified person Persona cualificada [per-SO-na kwa-li-fi-CA-da]

Ready-mix truck Camión de premezclado [kam-YON de pre-mes-KLA-do], mezcla-lista [MES-kla

LIS-ta]

Rebar (Reinforcing steel) Acero de refuerzo [a-SER-o de re-FWER-so]

Rescue Salvar [sal-VAR], rescatar [res-ca-TAR]

Respirator (mask) Máscara respiradora [MAS-ka-ra res-pir-a-DO-ra]

Reverse signal alarm Alarma de retroceso [a-LAR-ma de re-tro-SE-so]

Safety belt Cinturón de seguridad [sin-tur-ON de se-gur-i-DAD]

Safety equipment Equipo de seguridad [e-KI-po de se-gur-i-DAD]

Safety glasses Lentes de seguridad [LEN-tes de se-gur-i-DAD], gafas [GA-fas], anteojos [an-te-O-
hos]

Safety harness Asperas de seguridad [as-PER-as de se-gur-i-DAD], arnés de seguridad [ar-NES de

se-gur-i-DAD]

Safety net Malla de seguridad [MA-ya de se-gur-i-DAD], red de seguridad [red de se-gur-i-
DAD]

Scaffold Andamio [an-DA-myo]

Seat belts Cinturón de seguridad [sin-tur-ON de se-gur-i-DAD]

Silica Sílice [SIL-i-se], sílica [SI-li-ka]

Slope (or) hill Pendiente [pen-DYEN-te], inclinación [in-klin-a-SYON], cuesta [KWES-ta]

Soil Suelo [SWE-lo], terreno [ter-RE-no], tierra [TYER-ra]

Splice (to) Empalmar [em-pal-MAR]

Square Cuadrado [kwa-DRA-do]

Steel Hierro [YER-ro], acero [a-SER-o]

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Steel construction Construcción en acero [kon-struk-SYON en a-SER-o]

Struck-by Golpeado [gol-pe-A-do], impactado [im-pak-TA-do]

Tagout Interrupción de energía usando etiqueta [in-ter-rup-SYON de en-er-HI-a us-an-DO

e-ti-KE-ta]

Tape (electrical) Esparadrapo [es-pa-ra-DRA-po]

Tie-off Amarre, amarrarse [a-MAR-re], conectase [ko-nek-TA-se]

Tool Herramienta [er-ra-MYEN-ta]

Toolbox Caja de herramientas [KA-ha de er-ra-MYEN-tas]

Trench Trinchera [trin-CHE-ra], zanja [SAN-ha], excavación [eks-ka-va-SYON]

Trench box Caja de trinchera [KA-ha de trin-CHE-ra], mula [MU-la]

Unprotected side Lado expuesto [LA-do eks-PWES-to], lado descubierto [LA-do des-ku-BYER-to]

Unprotected edge Borde expuesto [BOR-de eks-PWES-to], borde descubierto [BOR-de des-ku-BYER-
to]

Vest Chaleco [cha-LE-ko]

Voltage Voltaje [vol-TA-he]

Warning Precaución [pre-kauw-SYON]

Warning signs Avisos de precaución [a-VI-sos de pre-kauw-SYON]

Wheelbarrow Carretilla [kar-re-TI-ya]

Working load Carga [KAR-ga]

Yard Yarda [YAR-da]