Also means
to pound repeatedly
Usage Note
Martillear emphasizes the repetitive action of hammering, distinguishing it from martillar (more common in parts of Latin America) which can refer to a single hammer blow. The word is built on martillo (hammer) plus the iterative suffix -ear, signalling a sustained, rhythmic motion. It often appears figuratively: el dolor le martilleaba la cabeza (the pain was hammering at his head).
Examples
"El carpintero martilleaba los clavos sin parar."
Natural Translation
The carpenter kept hammering the nails without stopping.
Free starter pack
Building your Spanish vocabulary?
Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.
Related Words
Explore Spanish by topic
SpanishNow
6 min read
