What does clave in Spanish mean?

What is the meaning of the word clave in Spanish? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use clave in Spanish.

The word clave in Spanish means key, key, code, key, clave, clef, hammer, drive, pin, nail, fix, rivet, steal, dive, devote yourself, apply yourself, dedicate yourself, fall for, rip off, nail, key aspect, access password, access key, the key to success, key element, coded, in code, in the key of, with a [adj] tone, key moment, pivotal moment, keyword, keyword, key aspect, key element, cornerstone, key point, key issue, key player, major player, key witness. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word clave

key

nombre femenino (información, dato) (crucial for understanding)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Identificar la variable dependiente es la clave para resolver el problema.

ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. A good memory is the key to learning a foreign language.

key

nombre femenino (cosa decisiva) (essential component)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

La clave para destrabar las negociaciones fue el cese de los ataques.

The key to unblocking negotiations was the ceasefire.

code

nombre femenino (código, combinación) (cypher)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Los mensajes secretos se escriben en clave.

The secret messages are written in code.

key

adjetivo (fundamental, básico) (essential)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

La pregunta clave es qué hacer con los resultados.

The key question is what to do with the results.

clave

nombre ambiguo en cuanto al género (instrumento: clavicémbalo) (musical instrument)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

No es muy común encontrar a una persona que sepa tocar el clave.

It's rare to find a person who plays clave.

clef

nombre femenino (Música: signo) (music)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

La clave de sol nos indica que la nota sol se escribe en la segunda línea del pentagrama.

The treble clef indicates that the G note is written on the second line of the staff.

hammer, drive

verbo transitivo (introducir, incrustar) (into a wall)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Para matar a un vampiro debes clavar una estaca en su corazón.

To kill a vampire you need to hammer (or: drive) a stake into his heart.

pin, nail

verbo transitivo (fijar con clavos) (to a wall)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

La pared se agrietó al clavar el cuadro.

The wall cracked where we pinned (or: nailed) the picture to it.

fix, rivet

verbo transitivo (fijar: los ojos) (figurative: with the eyes)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Mis sentidos se nublaron cuando él clavó su mirada en mis ojos.

ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. He fixed me with his gaze and told me the news.

steal

verbo pronominal (CU, MX (robarse algo)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

No pude clavarme nada, el guardia no dejaba de observarme.

I wasn't able to steal anything: the security guard had his eyes on me the whole time.

dive

verbo pronominal (CO, MX (tirarse de cabeza)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Los clavadistas saltan desde La Quebrada de Acapulco y se clavan en el mar.

The cliff divers at Acapulco dive into the sea off a cliff called La Quebrada.

devote yourself, apply yourself, dedicate yourself

(MX: coloquial (aplicarse, dedicarse)

(transitive verb and reflexive pronoun: Transitive verb with reflexive pronoun--for example, "Enjoy yourself." "They behaved themselves.")

María debería clavarse en su carrera de enfermera si quiere titularse.

ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Since I retired, I've devoted myself full-time to my garden.

fall for

(MX: coloquial (enamorarse, apasionarse)

Sandra es cruel y egoísta: si te clavas con ella, vas a sufrir.

Sandra is heartless and selfish. If you fall for her, you'll end up suffering.

rip off

verbo transitivo (ES: coloquial (cobrar muy caro) (colloquial, charge too much)

(phrasal verb, transitive, separable: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning, divisible--for example, "call off" [=cancel], "call the game off," "call off the game.")

Ten cuidado en el centro: allí clavan a los turistas incautos.

Be careful in the centre, they like to rip off unsuspecting tourists.

nail

verbo transitivo (coloquial (hacer algo muy bien) (slang, do [sth] well)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

El gimnasta clavó el ejercicio y obtuvo un puntaje perfecto.

The gymnast nailed the routine and got a perfect score.

key aspect

locución nominal masculina (aspecto decisivo)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

La satisfacción del cliente es un aspecto clave de las empresas exitosas.

Client satisfaction is a key aspect of successful businesses.

access password, access key

(Informática: contraseña)

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")

Por seguridad, las claves de acceso deben tener ocho caracteres o más.

For security, access passwords should have eight characters or more.

the key to success

(secreto para triunfar)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

key element

locución nominal masculina (factor decisivo)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

La logística es un elemento clave para tener éxito en el comercio internacional.

Logistics is a key element for being successful in international commerce.

coded

locución adjetiva (cifrado, codificado)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Nadie ha logrado descifrar este párrafo en clave del siglo XIII.

in code

locución adjetiva (que es engañoso)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

El libro está escrito en clave.

The book is written in code.

in the key of

locución preposicional (Música: signo) (musical)

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")

La sinfonía está compuesta en clave de sol.

ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. The boy is learning guitar and today his teacher taught him a few chords in the key of G minor.

with a [adj] tone

locución preposicional (en tono de)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

La crítica de esta película está escrita en clave de sátira.

ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. She used a jolly tone when she spoke about him.

key moment, pivotal moment

locución nominal masculina (momento decisivo)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

El hallazgo de huellas del yeti fue el momento clave de la expedición.

The finding of yeti footprints was the expedition's key moment.

keyword

(muy importante)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

«Unión» y «reconciliación» fueron las palabras claves del discurso del nuevo Presidente.

"Union" and "reconciliation" were the keywords of the new President's speech.

keyword

(Informática: criterio)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Para encontrar información útil en un motor de búsqueda, hay que elegir bien las palabras claves.

Keywords must be carefully chosen in order to find useful information in a search engine.

key aspect, key element, cornerstone

locución nominal femenina (factor esencial)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

La norma de cero defectos es la pieza clave de la calidad de sus productos.

The zero defects standard is the cornerstone of the quality of their products.

key point, key issue

locución nominal masculina (factor fundamental)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

El punto clave para que se cambiara de trabajo fue el sueldo.

The key issue that made him change jobs was the salary.

key player, major player

locución nominal masculina (sujeto indispensable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Robert Koch fue el sujeto clave para la prevención de la tuberculosis.

Robert Koch was the key player in the prevention of tuberculosis.

key witness

locución nominal común en cuanto al género (testigo indispensable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

La declaración del testigo clave fue decisiva para la condena del criminal.

The key witness's statement was decisive in the criminal's conviction.

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