nounnoun

el arma

weapon

Es un objeto que se usa para atacar o defenderse, y puede causar daño a personas o cosas.

Definition & meaning

The word arma refers to any instrument, tool, or object used for attack or defense. In a broad sense, it encompasses weapons such as firearms, blades, or blunt objects intended to cause harm.

It can also be used figuratively to describe a means, method, or argument used to overcome an obstacle or win an advantage (e.g., "his intelligence is his best weapon").

Grammar & Word origin

Arma is a feminine noun in Spanish, even though it starts with the letter 'a'. It derives from the Latin arma (plural of armum), meaning "tools" or "implements of war."

Because it begins with a stressed 'a' sound, when it is in the singular form, it typically takes the masculine article el to avoid cacophony (el arma), but it remains a feminine noun. Consequently, adjectives used with it must be feminine (e.g., el arma blanca). In the plural form, it reverts to the standard feminine article las (las armas).