saque
/SAH-keh/
serve
In sports like tennis or volleyball, saque refers to the initial 'serve' that starts the play.
📝 In Action
El tenista falló su primer saque y tuvo que intentarlo de nuevo.
A2The tennis player missed his first serve and had to try again.
Si ganas el punto, el próximo saque es tuyo.
B1If you win the point, the next serve is yours.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun
Even though it ends in '-e', 'saque' is always masculine, so you use 'el' or 'un' before it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Noun and Verb
Mistake: "Using 'sacar' when you mean the noun: 'El sacar es difícil.'"
Correction: Use the noun 'saque': 'El saque es difícil.' (The serve is difficult.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
This word is almost exclusively used in contexts related to ball games like tennis, volleyball, and paddle tennis.
When dealing with finances or goods, saque means 'withdrawal' or taking something out, often cash from a bank.
📝 In Action
El banco limitó el saque de efectivo diario.
B2The bank limited the daily cash withdrawal.
Tenemos que revisar el saque de mercancía del almacén.
C1We have to review the extraction (or removal) of merchandise from the warehouse.
💡 Grammar Points
Formal Contexts
In banking and business, 'saque' is often used in official documentation, even if people use 'retiro' in daily conversation.
⭐ Usage Tips
Synonym Alert
While correct, 'retiro' is usually the safer and more common word for 'cash withdrawal' in most Spanish-speaking regions.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: saque
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'saque' correctly in its most common context?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'saque' related to the verb 'sacar'?
Yes, 'saque' is the masculine noun form derived directly from the verb 'sacar' (to take out). It captures the action of 'taking out' or 'initiating' something, whether it's a ball in tennis or money from a bank.
If I hear 'saque' in a sentence, how do I know if it means 'serve' or 'withdrawal'?
Look at the surrounding words. If you hear 'tenis,' 'red' (net), or 'pelota' (ball), it means 'serve.' If you hear 'banco,' 'cajero' (ATM), or 'efectivo' (cash), it means 'withdrawal' or 'extraction.'
Is 'saque' also a verb?
Yes, but it's a specific verb form, not the infinitive. 'Saque' is the 'yo' form (I) of the present subjunctive of 'sacar' (a special verb form used for wishes and commands, e.g., 'Quiero que yo saque la basura' - I want me to take out the trash). When used this way, it is pronounced and spelled the same as the noun.