lancha
“lancha” means “motorboat” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
motorboat
Also: launch, speedboat
📝 In Action
Queremos alquilar una lancha para ir a la isla.
A2We want to rent a motorboat to go to the island.
La lancha cruzó el lago rápidamente.
A1The boat crossed the lake quickly.
El pescador subió sus redes a la lancha.
B1The fisherman put his nets onto the boat.
flagstone
Also: slab
📝 In Action
El patio estaba pavimentado con lanchas de granito.
C2The patio was paved with granite flagstones.
Bajo la tierra encontraron una gran lancha de piedra.
C1Under the ground they found a large stone slab.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: lancha
Question 1 of 3
Which of these would you most likely do with a 'lancha'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The boat meaning likely comes from the Portuguese 'lancha,' which may have originated from the Malay word 'lancharan,' meaning a fast-moving vessel. The stone meaning comes from an old Iberian or Celtic root referring to flat objects.
First recorded: 16th century (boat meaning)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 'lancha' always fast?
Not necessarily, but the word often implies a boat with a motor that can move at a decent speed. For a very fast one, you would say 'lancha rápida'.
Does a 'lancha' have a motor?
Yes, in modern Spanish, a 'lancha' almost always refers to a boat with an engine. A boat with oars is usually called a 'bote' or 'barca'.
Can I use 'lancha' to talk about a cruise ship?
No. A cruise ship is a 'crucero' or a 'barco grande.' Using 'lancha' for a ship that big would sound very strange!