el embrague
clutch
Mecanismo de un vehículo que conecta o separa el motor de las ruedas para cambiar de marcha.
Definition & meaning
Embrague is a masculine Spanish noun: el embrague, plural los embragues.
Its main meaning is clutch, especially in a vehicle: the mechanism that temporarily disconnects the engine from the gearbox so the driver can change gears or stop without turning off the engine.
It can also refer more generally to a coupling or engaging mechanism that connects and disconnects rotating mechanical parts.
Grammar & Word origin
- Part of speech: masculine noun
- Singular: el embrague
- Plural: los embragues
- It comes from the verb embragar , meaning “to engage or connect a clutch.”
- The word is related to the French mechanical term embrayage.
The word can be analyzed as a noun formed from the action expressed by embragar , although its modern form is primarily understood as a technical term rather than as a transparent combination of everyday Spanish parts.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- acoplamiento — “coupling” or “connection”; broader than embrague , since it may refer to any mechanism that joins components.
- mecanismo de acoplamiento — a descriptive technical expression for a device that connects rotating parts.
- dispositivo de embrague — a formal technical expression meaning “clutch device.”
These expressions are usually less specific or less common than embrague when referring to a car.
Antonyms
- desembrague — the act or state of disengaging the clutch; it describes the opposite mechanical action.
- desconexión — “disconnection”; a general term that is broader and not limited to vehicle clutches.
Common phrases & collocations
- pedal del embrague — clutch pedal
- pisar el embrague — to press the clutch pedal
- soltar el embrague — to release the clutch
- cambiar de marcha — to change gear
- disco de embrague — clutch disc
- embrague manual — manual clutch
- embrague automático — automatic clutch
- el embrague patina — the clutch slips
- cambiar el embrague — to replace the clutch
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Examples
El embrague está roto en el coche.noun
The clutch is broken in the car.
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