Agujero vs. hoyo vs. hueco
The Spanish words agujero, hoyo, and hueco all generally translate to hole in English, but they are used in different contexts in Spanish, each with unique nuances.
Agujero
A2An agujero refers to a hole that is typically small and round. It is often the result of some kind of puncture or hole-making action.
El gato hizo un agujero en el sofá con sus uñas.
(The cat made a hole in the sofa with its nails.)
Mi camiseta tiene un agujero en el hombro.
(My T-shirt has a hole in the shoulder.)
Hoyo
B1A hoyo is generally a hole in the ground or surface, and it's often naturally occurring. It's used for holes you might dig, like a golf hole.
El perro está cavando un hoyo en el jardín.
(The dog is digging a hole in the garden.)
El golfista golpeó la bola directamente en el hoyo.
(The golfer hit the ball straight into the hole.)
Hueco
B1Hueco refers to a hollow or an empty space within something that can also imply three-dimensionality. It relates to gaps or spaces, not necessarily due to puncture or digging.
Hay un hueco en mi horario mañana por la tarde.
(There is a gap in my schedule tomorrow afternoon.)
En la pared hay un hueco donde podríamos poner una estantería.
(There is a hollow in the wall where we could put a shelf.)
Summary
Agujero, hoyo and hueco can all be translated as hole, but each word specifies different types of holes. An agujero usually refers to a smaller, round hole while hoyo generally describes a larger hole typically found in the ground. On the other hand, hueco represents an empty space within something that may not have been formed by digging or puncturing.