plata
/PLAH-tah/
silver
The primary meaning of plata is the precious metal, silver.
plata(noun)
silver
?The chemical element or precious metal
sterling
?Referring to high-quality silver
📝 In Action
Mi abuela tiene una cubertería de plata muy antigua.
B1My grandmother has a very old set of silver cutlery.
El anillo tiene un baño de oro sobre plata.
A2The ring has a gold plating over silver.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
Even though it refers to a metal, 'plata' is always a feminine noun, so you use 'la plata'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Material vs. Color
If you want to say the color 'silver' (like a silver car), use the adjective 'plateado' (e.g., 'un coche plateado'), not 'plata'.
Plata is commonly used in Spanish to mean money or currency.
📝 In Action
¿Tienes suficiente plata para el autobús?
A1Do you have enough money for the bus?
No tengo plata en este momento, ¿puedes pagar tú?
A2I don't have cash right now, can you pay?
Gané mucha plata vendiendo mi coche viejo.
B1I earned a lot of money selling my old car.
💡 Grammar Points
Use with 'Hay'
To ask if there is money available, use 'Hay plata' (Is there money?), treating it like an uncountable substance, similar to 'water'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Regions
Mistake: "Using 'plata' for money in Spain in formal settings."
Correction: In Spain, use 'dinero'. In almost all of Latin America, 'plata' is perfectly normal and common for 'money'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Informal Powerhouse
If you are traveling in South America, using 'plata' will sound much more natural and local than using 'dinero' in casual conversation.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: plata
Question 1 of 2
In most of Latin America, if someone says 'Necesito más plata,' what do they mean?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'plata' rude or too informal to use for money?
Not at all in Latin America! It is the standard, everyday word for money, similar to 'cash' or 'funds' in English. It's only considered informal in Spain, where 'dinero' is the neutral choice.
Why does the word for the metal 'silver' also mean 'money'?
This is a historical link! For centuries, silver was the primary metal used to mint coins, making the word for the material synonymous with the currency itself. English has a similar, though less common, connection with the word 'sterling' (sterling silver).