plata
Lemma Details
Translation: silver; money; cash
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Latin 'plattus' meaning 'flat', which evolved to 'plata' in Spanish. The connection to silver comes from the flat sheets or plates of this precious metal. The secondary meaning of 'money' developed because silver coins were a common currency. English words like 'plate' and 'platinum' share this Latin root, with platinum literally meaning 'little silver' due to its similar appearance.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 50%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Este anillo está hecho de plata pura.
This ring is made of pure silver.
No tengo suficiente plata para comprar un coche nuevo.
I don't have enough money to buy a new car.
¿Tienes plata para prestarme?
Do you have money to lend me?
La luna brillaba como plata en el cielo nocturno.
The moon shone like silver in the night sky.
Mnemonics
- Think of a silver plate to remember 'plata' means silver
- Imagine paying with a silver 'plate' to connect it to money
- The English word 'platinum' (a precious metal like silver) sounds similar to 'plata'
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In many Latin American countries, 'plata' is the everyday word for money, more common than 'dinero' in casual speech. The phrase 'plata o plomo' became infamous during the Colombian drug cartel era, offering the choice between accepting a bribe (silver) or being killed (lead). In Argentina and other Southern Cone countries, 'plata' is particularly prevalent as the standard term for money.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Plata' means silver or money, while 'plato' means plate or dish. They share the same Latin root but have different meanings and genders ('plata' is feminine, 'plato' is masculine).
Confused word:
Pon la comida en el plato.
Put the food on the plate.
Notes: Both words are extremely common in everyday Spanish. The connection between them makes sense historically as plates were often made of silver.
Mnemonic: 'PlaTa' ends in 'a' like 'plata' (silver/money), while 'plaTo' ends in 'o' like 'oro' (gold) - two precious metals.
Explanation: 'Plata' means silver or money, while 'plátano' means banana or plantain. Despite some phonetic similarity, they are unrelated words.
Notes: In some Latin American countries, 'plátano' specifically refers to plantains, while bananas may be called 'banana' or 'guineo'.
Mnemonic: 'Plátano' has the stress on the first syllable (PLÁtano) and has more syllables than 'plata'.