cheques
/CHEH-kehs/
checks
A stack of financial cheques (checks).
cheques(noun)
checks
?financial instruments
,cheques
?UK English spelling
money orders
?less common substitute
📝 In Action
Recibimos cinco cheques de diferentes clientes esta mañana.
B1We received five checks from different clients this morning.
Necesito firmar todos estos cheques antes de irme.
B1I need to sign all these checks before I leave.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Plural
This word is the plural form of 'el cheque.' Since 'cheque' ends in a vowel, you add '-s' to make it plural. Remember, it is a masculine word, so you use 'los cheques'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Noun and Verb
Mistake: "Using 'cheque' when you mean 'chequear' (to check/verify)."
Correction: The noun 'cheque' is the paper money instrument. The verb form 'cheques' means 'you check' or 'that you check.'
⭐ Usage Tips
Regional Preference
In many parts of Latin America, 'cheque' is very common. In Spain, while understood, the word 'talón' is sometimes used for a paper check.
When you cheques (check) something, you verify its details.
cheques(verb)
you check
?informal present tense (tú)
,that you check
?present subjunctive (tú)
you verify
?informal present tense (tú)
📝 In Action
¿Tú siempre cheques la cerradura antes de salir?
B2Do you always check the lock before leaving?
Es crucial que cheques el informe antes de enviarlo al jefe.
B2It is crucial that you check the report before sending it to the boss.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Tú' Form
When 'cheques' is used as a verb, it is the 'tú' form (the informal 'you'). It means 'you check' (indicative, for facts) or 'that you check' (subjunctive, for wishes or uncertainty).
Subjunctive Trigger
Notice how 'Es crucial que cheques...' uses the special verb form (subjunctive). This form is triggered by expressions of necessity or importance.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Chequear' in Spain
Mistake: "Relying only on 'chequear' for 'to check' in Spain."
Correction: In Spain, 'revisar' or 'comprobar' are often preferred over 'chequear' when referring to verifying information or objects.
⭐ Usage Tips
Pronunciation Aid
Since this word comes from English, remember to pronounce the 'ch' sound like the 'ch' in 'chair', not like the 'sh' in 'sheep'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cheques
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'cheques' as the plural form of the financial instrument?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'cheques' means the noun or the verb?
Look at the words around it. If it follows an article like 'los' (los cheques), it is the noun (checks). If it follows a pronoun like 'tú' or a trigger phrase like 'que' (que cheques), it is the verb form (you check).
Is 'cheques' commonly used in all Spanish-speaking countries?
Yes, the noun (financial check) is universally understood. The verb 'chequear' is very common in Latin America, but speakers in Spain often prefer synonyms like 'revisar' or 'comprobar' for 'to check/verify'.