placas
“placas” means “license plates” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
license plates, tags
Also: number plates
📝 In Action
Olvidé poner las placas nuevas en el coche.
A2I forgot to put the new license plates on the car.
La policía revisó las placas para ver si el carro era robado.
B1The police checked the plates to see if the car was stolen.
plaques, slabs
Also: sheets, boards
📝 In Action
Colocaron unas placas de mármol en la pared del edificio.
B1They placed marble plaques on the wall of the building.
El dentista dijo que tengo que cepillarme mejor para quitar las placas.
B2The dentist said I have to brush better to remove the plaque (deposits).
you plate
Also: you coat
📝 In Action
Si tú placas el cobre con plata, no se oxida.
B2If you plate the copper with silver, it won't oxidize.
Espero que tú no placas la pared con ese material tan barato.
C1I hope you don't coat the wall with such cheap material. (Subjunctive use)
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "placas" in Spanish:
boards→license plates→number plates→plaques→sheets→slabs→tags→you coat→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: placas
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'placas' to mean something related to medicine?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'placa' entered Spanish from the French 'plaque,' meaning a thin, flat piece of metal or other material. This root is shared with English words like 'plaque' or 'plate.'
First recorded: Late Middle Ages
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'placas' the same as 'matrículas'?
They refer to the same thing: license plates. 'Placas' is generally more common and informal in many parts of Latin America, while 'matrículas' is often used in Spain and sometimes more formally in Latin America.
How do I know if 'placas' is a noun or a verb?
If you see 'las placas' or 'unas placas', it's the noun (license plates, plaques, etc.). If you see 'tú placas', it's the verb form meaning 'you plate' or 'you coat'.