carta

KAR-tah

NounfA1

letter?a message you send by mail

Also:mail?the postal system or items sent through it

📝 In Action

Escribo una carta para mi abuela.

I'm writing a letter to my grandmother.

¿Has recibido alguna carta hoy?

Have you received any mail today?

Envió la solicitud por carta certificada para estar seguro.

He sent the application by registered letter to be sure.

Word Connections

Synonyms

misiva (missive (formal))
epístola (epistle (literary))

Common Collocations

escribir una carta – to write a letter
enviar/mandar una carta – to send a letter
carta de amor – love letter
echar una carta al buzón – to post a letter

Idioms & Expressions

tomar cartas en el asunto – to take matters into one's own hands; to intervene

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

No matter what kind of 'carta' you're talking about, it's always a feminine word. So, you'll always say 'la carta' or 'una carta'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

'Carta' vs. 'Letra'

Mistake: "Quiero escribir una letra a mi amigo."

Correction: Quiero escribir una carta a mi amigo. 'Letra' means a letter of the alphabet (like A, B, C), while 'carta' is the message you mail.

⭐ Usage Tips

Letters in the Digital Age

While people send more emails ('correos electrónicos') now, 'carta' is still the go-to word for official documents, formal invitations, or heartfelt messages sent by post.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: carta

Question 1 of 2

You're at a restaurant in Madrid and want to see the fixed-price lunch special. What should you ask for?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

cartero / cartera(mail carrier, postman/postwoman) - noun

cartería(post office) - noun

cartearse(to write to each other, to correspond) - verb

portacartas(letter rack, letter holder) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between 'carta' and 'menú' in a restaurant?

Think of 'la carta' as the big book with all the food the restaurant can possibly make (what English speakers call the à la carte menu). 'El menú' (or 'menú del día') is usually a special daily offer with a fixed price that includes a couple of choices for a first course, second course, and dessert.

Can 'carta' mean a map?

Yes, but it's a bit more specific. You'll see it in phrases like 'carta náutica' (nautical chart/map) or 'carta astral' (astrological chart). For a regular road map, it's much more common to use the word 'mapa'.

How do I say 'a deck of cards'?

You would say 'una baraja de cartas'. 'Cartas' refers to the individual cards, while 'baraja' is the whole deck.