Significado
To be good at repairing or making things with one's hands.
Contexto cultural
The term 'manitas' is the most common colloquial way to refer to someone who is 'hábil con las manos'. Most neighborhoods have a 'manitas' who everyone calls for small repairs. In Mexico, the word 'mañoso' can sometimes be used for someone skillful, but 'darse maña' is more common to describe the ingenuity of fixing something with whatever is available. The 'alambre' (wire) culture in Argentina refers to fixing things 'con un pedazo de alambre', showing that being 'hábil con las manos' is often about resourcefulness. Handmade crafts (artesanías) are a major part of the economy and cultural identity. Being 'hábil con las manos' is a prerequisite for preserving these ancestral traditions.
Use it on your CV
If applying for a job in Spain or LatAm that involves physical work, use 'Poseo gran habilidad manual' for a more formal version of this phrase.
Don't use 'en'
Avoid saying 'hábil en las manos'. It's a dead giveaway that you are translating from English.
Significado
To be good at repairing or making things with one's hands.
Use it on your CV
If applying for a job in Spain or LatAm that involves physical work, use 'Poseo gran habilidad manual' for a more formal version of this phrase.
Don't use 'en'
Avoid saying 'hábil en las manos'. It's a dead giveaway that you are translating from English.
The 'Manitas' compliment
In Spain, calling someone 'un manitas' is a very high compliment for a friend. It implies they are helpful and smart.
Teste-se
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom.
Mi abuela hace unas mantas preciosas; ella ___ muy ___ con las manos.
We need the singular form of 'ser' (es) and 'hábil' to match 'mi abuela'.
Which preposition is correct?
Juan es muy hábil ___ las manos.
In Spanish, the idiom always uses the preposition 'con'.
Match the person to the reason they are 'hábil con las manos'.
Match the following:
All these professions require manual dexterity.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ¿Puedes ayudarme a arreglar el grifo? B: Lo siento, yo no ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.
The speaker is explaining why they cannot fix the faucet.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosMi abuela hace unas mantas preciosas; ella ___ muy ___ con las manos.
We need the singular form of 'ser' (es) and 'hábil' to match 'mi abuela'.
Juan es muy hábil ___ las manos.
In Spanish, the idiom always uses the preposition 'con'.
Combine cada item a esquerda com seu par a direita:
All these professions require manual dexterity.
A: ¿Puedes ayudarme a arreglar el grifo? B: Lo siento, yo no ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.
The speaker is explaining why they cannot fix the faucet.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
4 perguntasIt is neutral. You can use it with your boss, your grandmother, or your friends.
Only for sports that use hands, like basketball or being a goalkeeper. You wouldn't use it for a runner.
You can say 'ser un manazas' (to be clumsy/all thumbs) or 'tener dos manos izquierdas'.
No, 'hábil' ends in 'l', so it is the same for masculine and feminine (él es hábil / ella es hábil).
Frases relacionadas
Ser un manitas
synonymTo be a handyman.
Tener buena mano
similarTo have a 'good hand' for something (like cooking or plants).
Darse maña
similarTo be resourceful/clever with manual tasks.
Ser un hacha
specialized formTo be an 'axe' (an expert).
