nudo
nounCEFR B2
What does “nudo” mean in English?
knot, crux
knot, crux (a tangle or the central difficulty of a problem; el nudo de la cuestión; hacérsele un nudo en la garganta)
Example sentences
El nudo del problema reside en la falta de coordinación entre los distintos departamentos.
The crux of the problem lies in the lack of coordination between the various departments.
Sentí un nudo en la garganta cuando escuché las palabras del discurso de despedida.
I felt a lump in my throat when I heard the words of the farewell speech.
El barco navegaba a catorce nudos cuando avistó el banco de niebla.
The ship was sailing at fourteen knots when it spotted the fog bank.
How to use it
El nudo (noun, masculine) has three meanings at B2: (1) a physical knot (hacer/deshacer un nudo), (2) the crux or heart of a problem (el nudo de la cuestión; el nudo del problema), and (3) in narrative structure, the climax or main conflict. In speed/distance, a nudo is also a nautical knot (unit of speed). Key collocations: el nudo de la cuestión; nudo gordiano; nudo en la garganta (lump in the throat).
Common mistake
Nudo (knot/crux) is not to be confused with lazo (bow/tie) or lazada (loop). El nudo de la cuestión is the idiomatic phrase for 'the crux of the matter'. Nudo gordiano (Gordian knot) is a culturally embedded phrase meaning an intractable problem. Nudo en la garganta (lump in throat) is a fixed emotional expression.