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There is a common type of compound noun in Spanish which describes a person or a device that does something. Like a can opener, a corkscrew or a gamekeeper. These are known as exocentric verb-noun compounds. In Spanish such words are formed from the 3rd person singular of a verb and the plural of a noun. The resulting combination is always masculine singular, despite the fact that most of these words end in “s”. In this post Paul Whitelock lists some of the more common and more interesting ones.
People
un aguafiestas – party pooper
un chupatintas – penpusher
un comecocos – brain teaser
un comefuegos – fireater
un comehostias – goody goody
un cortabolsas – pickpocket
un guardabosques – gamekeeper
un guardacostas – coastguard
un guardaespaldas – bodyguard
un lavacaras – toady, creep
un limpiabotas – bootblack, shoeshine boy
un limpiachimeneas – chimney sweep
un limpiacristales – window cleaner
un limpiacoches – street car washer
Household items
un abrebotellas – bottle opener
un abrelatas – tin opener
un abrecartas – letter opener
un cortahuevos – egg slicer
un cortahumedades – dampproof course
un cortapapeles – paper cutter
un cortaalambres – wire cutters
un cortacircuitos/cortacorrientes – circuit breaker
un cortapapeles – paper cutter, guillotine
un cortapuros – cigar cutter
un cortaúñas – nail clippers
un cortavidrios – glass cutter
un lavamanos – handbasin
un lavapiés – footbath
un lavaplatos – dishwasher
un lavavajillas – washing-up liquid
un limpiacristales – window-cleaning fluid
un limpiadientes – toothpick
un limpiahornos – oven cleaner
un limpiamuebles – furniture cleaner
un matamoscas – fly swat
un posavasos – coaster; beer mat
un sacacorchos – corkscrew
un quitaesmaltes – nail varnish remover
un quitamanchas – stain remover
un quitamiedos – handrail
un sacapuntas – pencil sharpener
Transport
un guardacostas – coastguard vessel
un lavacoches – car wash
un lavaparabrisas – windscreen washer
un parabrisas – windscreen
un parachoques – bumper
un portaaviones – aircraft carrier
un portamaletas, un portaequipajes – boot; roof rack
un quitanieves – snow plough
Outside activities and equipment
un cortafuegos – firebreak
un cortavientos – windbreak
un espantapájaros – scarecrow
un paracaídas – parachute
un paraguas – umbrella
un pararrayos – lightning conductor
Natural world
un chupasangres – blood sucker
Miscellaneous
un matasellos – postmark
un pasamontanas – balaclava
A handful that don’t end in “s”
un guardameta – goalkeeper
un cortacésped – lawn mower
un parasol – parasol
un pasaporte – passport
un pasatiempo – pastime
un quitapintura – paint remover
un quitasol – sunshade
un quitasueño – worry, problem
If you know any more of these exocentric verb-noun compounds, please add them to the comment section at the end of this article.
