platillo
“platillo” means “dish” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
dish
Also: saucer, small plate
📝 In Action
El mole es un platillo típico de México.
A2Mole is a traditional dish from Mexico.
Pon la taza de café sobre el platillo.
A1Put the coffee cup on the saucer.
Mi madre preparó mi platillo favorito para mi cumpleaños.
B1My mother prepared my favorite dish for my birthday.
cymbals
Also: scale pan
📝 In Action
El músico chocó los platillos al final de la canción.
B2The musician crashed the cymbals at the end of the song.
La balanza tiene dos platillos de metal.
C1The scale has two metal pans.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: platillo
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the best translation for 'platillo principal'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Spanish word 'plato' (plate), which comes from the Vulgar Latin 'plattus' (flat), combined with the diminutive suffix '-illo'.
First recorded: 16th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'platillo' always small?
Not necessarily! While the suffix '-illo' usually means small, when talking about food recipes (a 'platillo típico'), it refers to the importance or type of dish, not the size of the portion.
Can I use 'platillo' for a UFO?
Yes! A 'flying saucer' is called a 'platillo volante' in Spanish.
What is the difference between 'plato' and 'platillo'?
'Plato' is the physical plate you eat from. 'Platillo' is more often used for the specific meal or recipe prepared on that plate, or for the small saucer under a cup.