mancha
/MAHN-chah/
stain
A spot left by liquid or dirt is a mancha (stain).
mancha(noun)
stain
?a spot left by liquid or dirt
,spot
?a small, unwanted mark
blot
?especially ink or paint
📝 In Action
Necesito quitar esta mancha de vino de la alfombra.
A2I need to get this wine stain out of the carpet.
Mi camisa blanca tiene una mancha de grasa.
A1My white shirt has a grease spot on it.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Reminder
Even though 'mancha' ends in '-a', remember that Spanish nouns are either masculine or feminine. 'Mancha' is always feminine, so you must use 'la mancha' or 'una mancha'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'De'
To specify what caused the stain, use the preposition 'de' (of): 'mancha de chocolate' (chocolate stain), 'mancha de barro' (mud stain).
An area or region of color or material is a mancha (patch).
mancha(noun)
patch
?an area or region of color or material
blot
?a mass or area of color/shadow
,area
?a defined segment of land or color
📝 In Action
En el mapa se ve una mancha azul que indica el lago.
B1On the map, you can see a blue patch that indicates the lake.
El sol creó una mancha de luz muy brillante en la pared.
B2The sun created a very bright patch of light on the wall.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Land or Color
Use this meaning when describing an undefined area, often related to nature, like a 'mancha de bosque' (a patch of forest) or 'mancha de color' (a blot of color).
When something leaves a spot on a surface, He/She/It mancha (stains). (Present tense)
mancha(verb)
stains
?He/She/It stains (Present tense)
,stain
?Formal command (Usted)
smears
?He/She/It smears
📝 In Action
Mi perro siempre mancha el suelo cuando come.
A2My dog always stains the floor when he eats.
Señora, por favor, no mancha esta tela.
B1Madam, please, do not stain this fabric. (Formal negative command)
💡 Grammar Points
Identifying the Verb
When 'mancha' is used as a verb, it means 'he/she/it stains' (present tense) or it is the informal command telling someone to 'stain' something. Context is key to telling it apart from the noun.
⭐ Usage Tips
Reflexive Use
Often used reflexively ('mancharse') to mean 'to get stained' or 'to get dirty': 'Se manchó la ropa con pintura' (He got his clothes stained with paint).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: mancha
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'mancha' as a verb?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if 'mancha' is the noun or the verb?
Look at the words around it. If it follows an article (la, una) or an adjective, it’s almost certainly the noun ('la mancha'). If it follows a subject like a pronoun (él, ella, usted) or a person’s name, it is the verb form ('él mancha').
Is 'mancha' related to the region of 'La Mancha' in Spain?
Yes, it is! The name 'La Mancha' literally means 'the stain' or 'the patch.' It's often thought to refer to the dry, arid appearance of the region, which looks like a large, distinct patch of land.