What’s Iron in Spanish? | Say It Right In Daily Talk

In Spanish, “iron” is usually “hierro” for the metal, while the clothes iron is “plancha”.

You can translate “iron” into Spanish in a clean, single-word way most of the time. The trick is knowing which “iron” you mean. English uses one word for a metal, a clothing tool, a golf club, and a verb. Spanish splits those ideas into different words, so a direct swap can land you in a funny sentence.

This article gives you the exact Spanish word you need, how to say it out loud, and how to use it in real sentences. You’ll also see common set phrases that show up in news, sports, and everyday speech.

Iron In Spanish: The Two Meanings You Meet Most

When people ask for the Spanish for “iron,” they’re usually talking about one of two things: the metal or the household appliance. Spanish treats those as separate nouns.

Hierro For The Metal

Hierro is the standard word for the chemical element and the metal used in tools, nails, gates, and cookware. The RAE dictionary entry for “hierro” lists it as the metal and also notes other uses in Spanish.

Quick examples:

• El hierro es un metal. (Iron is a metal.)
• Una verja de hierro. (An iron gate.)
• Sartén de hierro. (An iron pan, in everyday talk.)

Plancha For The Clothes Iron

If you mean the device that smooths wrinkles, Spanish commonly uses plancha (noun) and planchar (verb). Cambridge’s English–Spanish entry for “iron” shows plancha for the appliance and planchar for “to iron.” Cambridge’s “iron” (English–Spanish) page shows both meanings side by side.

Quick examples:

• ¿Dónde está la plancha? (Where’s the iron?)
• Tengo que planchar la camisa. (I have to iron the shirt.)

What’s Iron in Spanish? With Pronunciation And Examples

Here are the most useful details for hierro, since it’s the word you’ll reach for in science class, hardware stores, and normal conversation about materials.

How To Say “Hierro”

Most learners stumble on the first sound: hi- is silent in Spanish. You don’t pronounce an English “h.” You start with a sound close to “YE,” then roll into -rro.

Cambridge’s Spanish–English entry shows a pronunciation guide and sample uses for hierro. Cambridge’s “hierro” (Spanish–English) page is handy when you want a quick audio reference.

Pronunciation tips that work in practice:

• Silent H: Think “YEH-rro,” not “HI-eh-rro.”
• Double R:rr is a strong trill for many speakers. If you can’t trill yet, a firm single “r” sound still gets you understood in most settings.
• Stress: The stress falls on the first syllable: HIE-rro.

When “Iron” Means A Nutrient

English often says “iron” when talking about diet labels and supplements. Spanish still uses hierro for that mineral. You’ll see it on food packaging and in basic nutrition reading.

Common packaging-style phrases:

• Con hierro. (With iron.)
• Alto en hierro. (High in iron.)
• Hierro: 18 mg. (Iron: 18 mg.)

Meaning Checks That Save You From Wrong Translations

Spanish gives you a few more “iron” words depending on context. These are the ones that pop up most in real reading and travel.

Fierro In Some Regions

In parts of Latin America, people may say fierro in casual speech where many other regions say hierro. If you stick with hierro, you’re safe across Spanish-speaking countries. If you hear fierro, treat it as a regional swap for the same basic idea when the topic is metal.

Iron In Golf

Golf uses “iron” for a type of club. Spanish keeps hierro for that meaning too, often with a number: hierro 7 (7-iron).

Iron As A Verb

English “to iron” can mean smoothing fabric, or adding iron to a diet, or reinforcing with iron. Spanish picks verbs based on the idea:

• planchar for clothes: Voy a planchar.
• reforzar con hierro for reinforcing with metal: Reforzaron la puerta con hierro.

Common Phrases With “Hierro” You’ll Actually Hear

Learning a word is easier when you meet it inside phrases that people repeat. Here are several that show up in everyday Spanish. Use them as building blocks.

Everyday Set Phrases

• De hierro: made of iron, or “tough as nails” in a figurative sense. Ej.: Tiene una voluntad de hierro.
• Hierro forjado: wrought iron. Ej.: Una barandilla de hierro forjado.
• Hierro fundido: cast iron. Ej.: Una olla de hierro fundido.
• A hierro y fuego: with harsh force; you’ll see it in history writing.

Proverb You’ll See In Writing

A common proverb is “Quien a hierro mata, a hierro muere.” It means that violence can come back to the person who uses it. You’ll see it in opinion pieces and novels, and sometimes in sports headlines when teams play rough.

Quick Reference Table For The Word “Iron” In Spanish

Use this table when you’re translating a sentence and want a fast match between English meaning and Spanish wording.

English Meaning	Spanish Word Or Phrase	Example In Spanish
Iron (metal)	hierro	El puente es de hierro.
Clothes iron (device)	plancha	La plancha está caliente.
To iron clothes	planchar	Voy a planchar la falda.
Cast iron	hierro fundido	Una sartén de hierro fundido.
Wrought iron	hierro forjado	Una puerta de hierro forjado.
7-iron (golf)	hierro 7	Golpeó con el hierro 7.
Iron-rich (nutrition)	rico en hierro	Busco comida rica en hierro.
Will of iron (figurative)	voluntad de hierro	Tiene una voluntad de hierro.

How To Pick The Right Word In Real Situations

Here’s a simple way to choose the right Spanish term without overthinking it. Ask yourself one question: “Can I touch it like an object, or is it a concept?” Then match it.

If It’s A Material Or Ingredient

Use hierro for the metal and the nutrient. This covers most writing about cookware, tools, construction, chemistry, and diet labels.

If It’s A Household Tool For Clothes

Use plancha (noun) and planchar (verb). If you add “de vapor” you get “steam iron”: plancha de vapor.

If You’re Writing Instructions

Spanish instruction writing often leans on short verbs and direct object phrases:

• Plancha la camisa a baja temperatura. (Iron the shirt on low heat.)
• No planches sobre el estampado. (Don’t iron over the print.)
• Limpia la base de la plancha. (Clean the iron’s soleplate.)

Translation Traps: “Iron” Isn’t Always “Hierro”

These are the mistakes that pop up most in translations by beginners and even by advanced learners who are tired.

Trap 1: Mixing Up “Plancha” And “Hierro”

If you say Necesito un hierro when you want a clothes iron, some people may picture a piece of metal, a tool bar, or a crowbar-style “iron.” In a store, ask for una plancha instead.

Trap 2: Forgetting That “Iron” Can Be “Steel” In English

In casual English, people call many metal objects “iron” even when they’re steel. Spanish speakers may still say hierro casually, but technical writing often separates hierro (iron) from acero (steel). If your sentence is technical, check the source material and match the right metal.

Trap 3: Overusing Literal Word Order

English stacks nouns: “iron gate,” “iron pan,” “iron intake.” Spanish often uses de phrases: puerta de hierro, sartén de hierro, ingesta de hierro. It sounds natural and it reads clean.

Mini Practice: Say It, Write It, Use It

A small practice loop helps the word stick. Try these three steps:

1. Say it: “hierro” five times, keeping the first syllable clear and the “rr” strong.
2. Write it: Make two lines: one with hierro as the metal, one with hierro as the nutrient.
3. Use it: Put it into a sentence you’d actually say this week.

Sample sentences you can copy and tweak:

• Compré una sartén de hierro para cocinar. (I bought an iron pan to cook.)
• Esta receta tiene hierro y proteína. (This recipe has iron and protein.)
• Necesito planchar la ropa antes del viaje. (I need to iron the clothes before the trip.)

Second Reference Table: Fast Phrases For Travel, School, And Shops

If you’re using Spanish in daily errands, short phrases beat grammar drills. These lines get you through common situations.

Situation	Spanish Phrase	Meaning
Hardware store	Busco hierro para una reparación.	I’m looking for iron for a repair.
Kitchen shopping	¿Tienen una sartén de hierro fundido?	Do you have a cast-iron pan?
Laundry	¿Puedo usar la plancha aquí?	Can I use the iron here?
Clothes label	No planchar.	Do not iron.
Nutrition chat	Quiero comer más alimentos con hierro.	I want to eat more iron-containing foods.
School science	El símbolo del hierro es Fe.	The symbol for iron is Fe.
Golf	Dame el hierro 9.	Give me the 9-iron.

When You See “Iron Deficiency” In Spanish

Health writing is full of the word “iron,” and Spanish uses hierro in phrases like deficiencia de hierro and anemia por deficiencia de hierro. If you’re reading a public health page, you’ll also see plain “anemia” used as a headline term.

The World Health Organization anaemia fact sheet notes that iron deficiency is a common nutritional cause of anaemia. It’s a useful reference if you’re translating health pages and want wording that matches international usage.

Common Spanish phrases in this topic:

• Deficiencia de hierro
• Anemia ferropénica
• Suplemento de hierro

Recap You Can Trust While Writing Or Speaking

Use hierro for the metal, the nutrient, and many figurative expressions. Use plancha for the device that presses clothes, and planchar for the action. If you keep that split in mind, your translations stay clean, and your sentences sound like something a Spanish speaker would actually say.