eje

axis

noun EH-heh Less Common

Origin: Latin 'axis'

Also means

axle

Usage Note

Eje is used both literally (the axle of a wheel: eje trasero) and figuratively as a central theme or pillar (el eje del debate). In geography and history, el Eje (capitalized) refers to the Axis Powers of World War II. The pronunciation is straightforward — two syllables, stress on the first — but the 'j' sound trips many learners expecting a harder consonant.

Examples

"El eje de la rueda está roto."

Natural Translation

The wheel's axle is broken.

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