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martillear

to hammer

verb mar-tee-yeh-AHR Rare
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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.

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