grifos

Grifo is a noun used in Spanish for two distinct concepts: a faucet, commonly in plumbing contexts, and the griffin, a legendary hybrid creature. The plural grifos can refer to multiple taps or to multiple griffins, depending on context.

The term grifo shares roots with the English griffin, tracing back through Latin and Greek forms to the ancient myth. In Spanish, the same word covers both senses, which can cause ambiguity without context.

In everyday use, a grifo denotes a faucet that controls water flow from a pipe. In homes and buildings you may encounter phrases such as grifo de cocina or grifo de baño. There are many faucet types, including monobloc and mixer taps.

In heraldry and folklore, grifo designates the griffin, a creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. Griffins are symbols of guardianship, vigilance, and strength and appear on coats of arms and decorative arts.

Beyond language, grifo or grifos may appear as surnames or in place names and brands, reflecting the term's cultural reach.