pie de página
Lemma Details
Translation: footnote; footer
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: The term 'pie de página' is a compound noun in Spanish that literally means 'foot of the page'. It combines 'pie' (foot) from Latin 'pes, pedis' and 'página' (page) from Latin 'pagina'. This mirrors the English term 'footnote', which also uses the metaphor of text being at the 'foot' or bottom of a page. The concept reflects the traditional practice in manuscript and book production of placing supplementary information at the bottom of the page.
Commonality: 60%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
El autor incluyó un pie de página para aclarar su fuente.
The author included a footnote to clarify his source.
La información adicional se encuentra en el pie de página.
The additional information can be found in the footnote.
El documento tiene varios pies de página con referencias bibliográficas.
The document has several footnotes with bibliographic references.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'pie' as 'foot' and 'página' as 'page' - literally the 'foot of the page' where notes are placed.
- Visualize a footnote standing at the bottom (foot) of a page, like feet standing on the ground.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
Used in academic, publishing, and digital document contexts. In Spanish academic writing, footnotes (pies de página) are commonly used for citations and additional explanatory information, similar to English academic conventions.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'pie de página' and 'nota al pie' are often used interchangeably to mean 'footnote', 'pie de página' can also refer to the footer of a document (the bottom margin area), whereas 'nota al pie' specifically refers to a note or reference placed at the bottom of a page.
Confused word:
La nota al pie explica el origen de la cita.
The footnote explains the origin of the quote.
Notes: In digital publishing and word processing, 'pie de página' is more commonly used for the footer area that appears on every page, while 'nota al pie' or 'nota a pie de página' might be preferred for specific reference notes.
Mnemonic: 'Pie de página' can be the whole bottom section (like a foot supporting the page), while 'nota al pie' is specifically a note at the bottom.