placa
/PLAH-kah/
license plate
A 'placa' (license plate) is essential for identifying a vehicle.
📝 In Action
¿Dónde está la placa trasera de tu coche?
A2Where is your car's back license plate?
El policía me pidió ver mi licencia y la placa del vehículo.
B1The police officer asked me to see my license and the vehicle's plate.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Reminder
Even though 'placa' ends in 'a,' remember it is a feminine noun, so you use 'la placa' or 'una placa'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Regional Variation
In some Spanish-speaking regions, 'matrícula' is preferred over 'placa' for license plates, but 'placa' is understood everywhere.
This 'placa' serves as a commemorative plaque, honoring a person or event.
placa(noun)
plaque
?commemorative or identifying sign
,nameplate
?on a desk or door
badge
?police or authority badge
📝 In Action
Colocaron una placa conmemorativa en la pared del edificio antiguo.
B1They placed a commemorative plaque on the wall of the old building.
El detective mostró su placa antes de entrar a la casa.
B2The detective showed his badge before entering the house.
💡 Grammar Points
Plaque vs. Sign
'Placa' usually implies a small, flat, rigid sign, often made of metal or stone. For larger, general signs, use 'cartel' or 'señal'.
A 'placa' can also refer to a flat sheet of material, such as this metal sheet.
placa(noun)
sheet
?flat piece of material (metal, glass)
,panel
?flat section of material (solar, circuit)
circuit board
?electronics context (placa madre = motherboard)
,dental plaque
?medical context
📝 In Action
Necesitamos una placa de yeso para cubrir esta pared.
B2We need a sheet of drywall (gypsum plate) to cover this wall.
La placa solar genera suficiente energía para la casa.
C1The solar panel generates enough energy for the house.
💡 Grammar Points
Technical Compound Nouns
You will often see 'placa' combined with another noun to name a specific object, such as 'placa base' (motherboard) or 'placa dental' (dental plaque).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: placa
Question 1 of 2
Which English word is the best translation for 'placa' in the sentence: 'Mi computadora necesita una placa base nueva.'
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'placa' only used for cars, or can it be used for other vehicles?
'Placa' is used for any motorized vehicle that requires official registration, including motorcycles, trucks, and sometimes large trailers.
How do I say 'dental plaque'?
You can use 'placa dental' or simply 'placa' in a medical context, as in 'Tengo mucha placa en los dientes' (I have a lot of plaque on my teeth).