Inklingo
← Dictionary

plástico

/PLAS-tee-koh/

plastic

A simple, bright red plastic cup sitting alone on a plain white background.

Plástico as a noun refers to the synthetic material itself, often used to make objects like this cup.

plástico(noun)

mA1

plastic

?

the synthetic material

Also:

credit card

?

informal use, especially in Spain (e.g., pagar con plástico)

📝 In Action

Necesitamos reducir nuestro consumo de plástico de un solo uso.

B1

We need to reduce our consumption of single-use plastic.

¿Aceptan pagar con plástico aquí?

A2

Do you accept payment by plastic (credit card) here?

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • bolsa de plástico – plastic bag
  • reciclar plástico – to recycle plastic

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun

Even though it ends in '-o', remember that 'plástico' is a masculine noun, so you always use 'el' or 'un' before it.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the wrong article

Mistake: "La plástico"

Correction: El plástico. Always use the masculine article 'el'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Informal Payment

In Spain, it's very common to ask if a place accepts 'plástico' when asking if they take credit or debit cards, saving you from saying the longer word 'tarjeta de crédito'.

A bright yellow plastic toy duck with a simple, smooth design.

Plástico as an adjective describes something made of synthetic material, such as this toy duck.

plástico(adjective)

m/fA2

plastic

?

made of synthetic material

,

moldable

?

easily shaped or flexible

Also:

artificial

?

lacking sincerity or natural feeling (figurative)

📝 In Action

Compró unos vasos plásticos muy baratos.

A2

She bought some very cheap plastic cups.

La arcilla es un material muy plástico en manos de un artista.

B2

Clay is a very moldable material in the hands of an artist.

Su sonrisa parecía plástica, como si no fuera sincera.

C1

Her smile seemed artificial, as if it weren't sincere.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • flexible (flexible)
  • moldeable (moldable)
  • artificial (artificial)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • cirugía plástica – plastic surgery
  • material plástico – plastic material

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective Agreement

As an adjective, 'plástico' must change to match the thing it describes. If the thing is feminine (like 'botella'), use 'plástica'. If it is plural (like 'vasos'), use 'plásticos'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting Gender/Number

Mistake: "Una cuchara plástico"

Correction: Una cuchara plástica. Since 'cuchara' (spoon) is feminine, the adjective must also be feminine.

⭐ Usage Tips

Figurative Use

When describing a person's emotions or art, 'plástico' can mean 'artificial' or 'expressive/moldable'. Context is key here!

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: plástico

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'plástico' as a noun meaning 'credit card'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

plasticidad(plasticity, flexibility) - noun
plastificar(to laminate, to plasticize) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'plástico' always masculine when used as a noun?

Yes, when referring to the material or the credit card, 'plástico' is always masculine: 'el plástico'.

How do I say 'plastic surgery'?

The correct phrase is 'cirugía plástica.' Notice that the adjective 'plástica' must be feminine to match the feminine noun 'cirugía' (surgery).