pólvora
gunpowder
noun POHL-boh-rah Rare
Origin: From Latin pulvis (dust, powder).
Usage Note
Pólvora carries the accent on the first syllable, making it an esdrújula. The phrase no ha inventado la pólvora ('he didn't invent gunpowder') is a common idiom meaning someone is not particularly clever. It is also used loosely for fireworks powder in festival contexts across Latin America.
Examples
"La pólvora explotó con un gran estruendo."
Natural Translation
The gunpowder exploded with a great bang.
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