plato
/PLAH-toh/
plate
Plato (plate) as a ceramic dish used for eating.
📝 In Action
Por favor, pon los platos limpios en la mesa.
A1Please, put the clean plates on the table.
Se me cayó un plato de cerámica y se rompió.
A2A ceramic plate fell on me and broke.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun
Remember that 'plato' is a masculine word, so you must use 'el' or 'un' before it: 'el plato' (the plate).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'plata' instead of 'plato'
Mistake: "Dame la plata."
Correction: Dame el plato. ('Plata' means 'silver' or 'money' in Latin America, not the eating utensil.)
Plato (dish) meaning a specific food preparation or course.
plato(noun)
dish
?a specific food preparation or course
,course
?part of a meal (e.g., main course)
meal
?general food item
📝 In Action
¿Cuál es el plato del día en este restaurante?
A2What is the dish of the day in this restaurant?
Mi plato favorito es la lasaña.
A2My favorite dish is lasagna.
El primer plato fue una sopa de verduras.
B1The first course was a vegetable soup.
💡 Grammar Points
Plato vs. Comida
'Comida' is the general word for 'food' or 'meal.' 'Plato' refers to a specific, prepared item of food, like a recipe or a course in a restaurant.
⭐ Usage Tips
Ordering Food
When ordering in a restaurant, 'plato' is the perfect word to ask about the specific items available: '¿Qué platos recomiendas?' (What dishes do you recommend?)
In some regions, plato (record) refers to a vinyl disc.
plato(noun)
record
?vinyl disc (especially in Latin America)
cymbal
?musical instrument
,chainring
?large gear on a bicycle
📝 In Action
Ese DJ tiene una colección de platos antiguos impresionante.
B2That DJ has an impressive collection of old records (vinyl).
Añade un poco de sonido con los platos de la batería.
C1Add some sound with the cymbals of the drum kit.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
This meaning is based on the object's round, flat shape. When talking about music, 'plato' often specifically means a vinyl record, especially in informal settings.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: plato
Question 1 of 2
If someone says, 'El plato de arroz es excelente,' what are they referring to?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'plato' the same as 'tazón'?
No. 'Plato' is flat or shallow (like a dinner plate or side plate). 'Tazón' is a deep, rounded container, usually translated as 'bowl' or 'mug,' used for soup or cereal.
How do I say 'main course' in Spanish?
You can use 'el plato principal' or 'el plato fuerte.' Both are very common ways to describe the biggest or most important part of the meal.