Words, words and more words

[Marianopolita]

Sabana

Colcha

Where are these words for blanket used? I think I know but I will let you confirm.


In the scenario I gave asking for a blanket in Spanish on an airplane would you use sábana and colcha?

Sábana is also the standard word for sheet. That is why I am asking.

 

[Chirimoya]

Maybe you are thinking of frazada as the other word for blanket.

That's it!

 

[Chirimoya]

Sabana

Colcha

Colcha is more like a quilt or bedspread, and sábana is a sheet.

 

[Africaida]

I love this thread, a reminder of how little I know.

 

[Chirimoya]

I just came across a subtitling error with the verb pretender. Classic false cognate. In Spanish pretender is to intend/hope/expect, or to claim something as in the more archaic sense in English of being a pretender. To pretend/feign would be fingir.

 

[Marianopolita]

I love this thread, a reminder of how little I know.

Africaida,


That is the beauty about Spanish. It is a vast language but mutually intelligible. Can you imagine you can go anywhere in the Spanish-speaking world with a few exceptions and be understood. Unless it’s one of the true dialects then you can speak Spanish anywhere and have a conversation. In my opinion, the learning never stops. Whether it’s a grammar point, vocabulary, sentence structure etc. if you are interacting in Spanish daily or on a regular basis you will learn something new. That is why when asked I say to people just learn Spanish. Many people ask what Spanish should I learn? There are many spoken variations but one grammar although there are regional variations the grammar is still unified.


Here is a glimpse at the Spanish-speaking world. There are so many words and ways to say the same thing but in general each country or region has a typical manner of speaking. That is one of the many ways to identify a speaker.

 

[Marianopolita]

I just came across a subtitling error with the verb pretender. Classic false cognate. In Spanish pretender is to intend/hope/expect, or to claim something as in the more archaic sense in English of being a pretender. To pretend/feign would be fingir.

Can you post the link where you saw it? I am curious to read the heading especially if it was a newspaper.


Thanks.

 

[Wishing you well]

Where are these words for blanket used? I think I know but I will let you confirm.


In the scenario I gave asking for a blanket in Spanish on an airplane would you use sábana and colcha?

Sábana is also the standard word for sheet. That is why I am asking.

Cubierta would also apply

 

[El Rey de Mangu]

Where are these words for blanket used? I think I know but I will let you confirm.


In the scenario I gave asking for a blanket in Spanish on an airplane would you use sábana and colcha?

Sábana is also the standard word for sheet. That is why I am asking.

I would have asked for a "Cuba Libre" or "doble etiqueta negra", limpia. I only know colcha for blanket. Although I prefer the "r" and not the "l".

 

[Marianopolita]

@ Rey de M

Where did you learn colcha?

Although these words are related in meaning there is a difference. The bedspread (colcha) is not necessarily a blanket (manta). Clearly there is regional usage here.

 

[Chirimoya]

Can you post the link where you saw it? I am curious to read the heading especially if it was a newspaper.


Thanks.

It was a TV subtitle but I was changing channels so no idea what the show was.

 

[El Rey de Mangu]

@ Rey de M

Where did you learn colcha?

Although these words are related in meaning but there is a difference. The bedspread (colcha) is not necessarily a blanket (manta). Clearly there is regional usage here.

Here. I learned German in Frankfurt, Spanish in DR and English in da Bronx!

 

[Marianopolita]

When using a dictionary I was taught the first word is usually the most general word. Was anyone else taught this?

Look at the word in Spanish for blanket. Not to say the others are not used but they also have a specific meaning like colcha means bedspread however some may use it to say blanket.

blanket - English-Spanish Dictionary - WordReference.com

blanket - Translation to Spanish, pronunciation, and forum discussions

www.wordreference.com

 

[Fulano2]

In the DR the word for this kind of informal blanket (in the U.K, it would be a plaid, I think, please English readers, correct me if I’m wrong) ,the most common word would be frisa.

 

[johne]

Cubierta would also apply

My Colombian cleaning lady uses "cubierta".

 

[Marianopolita]

My Colombian cleaning lady uses "cubierta".

Even in the scenario I gave in post #75?

There are many words that can be used but on an airplane if you are cold because of the air conditioning and you are flying in Latin America, the attendant does not speak English. How do you say can I have a blanket?

colcha, sábana and cubierta are specific and refer to what you put on the bed. Are you saying people would use these words too for that small airplane blanket?

 

[Marianopolita]

In the DR the word for this kind of informal blanket (in the U.K, it would be a plaid, I think, please English readers, correct me if I’m wrong) ,the most common word would be frisa.

Yes, frisa is also muy caribeña. I don’t think you will hear that word for blanket (in the context I gave in post #75) outside of the Caribbean.

I can’t comment on plaid . I have never that word used for blanket.

 

[Marianopolita]

Maybe you are thinking of frazada as the other word for blanket.


Words used for coat, jacket, sweater vary a lot in Latin America. I will come back to this.

@ Chirimoya

I think the first distinction is between a coat and a jacket. Abrigo is the standard word for coat but many words in Spanish don’t refer to a coat in the traditional sense. Too many to list but abrigo and chaqueta are the most generic.

 

[Chirimoya]

Yes, frisa is also muy caribeña. I don’t think you will hear that word for blanket (in the context I gave in post #75) outside of the Caribbean.

I can’t comment on plaid . I have never that word used for blanket.

British English speakers would just say blanket but it may be a regionalism. Plaid is a kind of fabric or the tartan sash in traditional Scottish Highland costume. US English speakers say plaid to describe the pattern or type of weave but GB English speakers call it tartan.

 

[Chirimoya]

@ Chirimoya

I think the first distinction is between a coat and a jacket. Abrigo is the standard word for coat but many words in Spanish don’t refer to a coat in the traditional sense. Too many to list but abrigo and chaqueta are the most generic.

Sobretodo - overcoat. Wreaks havoc with automatic translation, as in "I like swimming, football and overcoat tennis."
Americana - blazer (what US-English speakers call a sports jacket).
Impermeable - raincoat.