carpa
“carpa” means “tent” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
tent
Also: marquee
📝 In Action
Llevamos una carpa azul para acampar en la montaña.
A1We brought a blue tent to go camping in the mountains.
La carpa del circo es muy grande y colorida.
A2The circus tent is very big and colorful.
Tuvimos que armar la carpa bajo la lluvia.
B1We had to set up the tent in the rain.
carp
📝 In Action
Hay muchas carpas en este estanque.
B1There are many carp in this pond.
Pescamos una carpa enorme en el río.
B2We caught a huge carp in the river.
La carpa koi es muy popular en los jardines japoneses.
B2The koi carp is very popular in Japanese gardens.
Vocabulary Collections
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: carpa
Question 1 of 3
If you are going camping in Argentina, what would you 'armar'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The 'tent' meaning comes from Quechua (an indigenous language of the Andes), while the 'fish' meaning comes from Late Latin.
First recorded: 16th century (tent); 13th century (fish)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'carpa' mean 'tarp'?
Not exactly. While 'carpa' is a tent, a flat waterproof sheet is usually called a 'lona' or 'toldo'. However, they are related in function.
Can I use 'carpa' for camping in Spain?
You will be understood, but it sounds a bit strange. In Spain, people will almost always say 'tienda de campaña' for camping.
Is 'carpa' a common fish to eat?
Yes, in many parts of the world, carp is a staple food, though in some regions it is considered more of an ornamental pond fish.