Inklingo
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tabla

/TAH-blah/

board

A close-up illustration of a single, flat, unfinished rectangular piece of wood, known as a board.

Tabla can mean a flat piece of wood or material, like a construction board.

tabla(noun)

fA1

board

?

flat piece of wood or material

,

plank

?

long, thick piece of wood

Also:

cutting board

?

kitchen utensil (tabla de cortar)

,

surfboard

?

sports equipment (tabla de surf)

📝 In Action

Necesitamos una tabla de madera para reparar la cerca.

A1

We need a wooden board to repair the fence.

Por favor, usa la tabla de cortar para el pan.

A2

Please use the cutting board for the bread.

Mi hermano compró una tabla de surf nueva para el verano.

B1

My brother bought a new surfboard for the summer.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • madero (timber, log)
  • tablón (large plank)

Common Collocations

  • tabla de planchar – ironing board
  • tabla de skate – skateboard

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Check

Remember that 'tabla' is always feminine, so you must use 'la tabla' or 'una tabla'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Specific Boards

When talking about specific types of boards (like for cutting or surfing), you usually add 'de' plus the purpose: 'tabla de cortar', 'tabla de surf'.

An illustration showing a grid structure of colored squares arranged neatly in rows and columns, representing a data table.

When referring to organized data, tabla means table, showing information in rows and columns.

tabla(noun)

fB1

table

?

data arranged in rows and columns

,

chart

?

structured list of information

Also:

spreadsheet

?

digital data table

,

list

?

organized data

📝 In Action

Por favor, consulta la tabla de contenidos para encontrar el capítulo.

B1

Please consult the table of contents to find the chapter.

El profesor nos hizo memorizar la tabla de multiplicar.

A2

The teacher made us memorize the times table.

Los resultados están resumidos en la siguiente tabla.

B2

The results are summarized in the following table.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • cuadro (chart, grid)
  • gráfico (graph)

Common Collocations

  • tabla periódica – periodic table
  • tabla comparativa – comparison chart

💡 Grammar Points

Data vs. Furniture

Be careful: 'tabla' is for data lists, while 'mesa' is the word for the furniture you eat at or work on.

An illustration of two cartoon figures locked in a tug-of-war where neither side is gaining ground, symbolizing a draw or tied game.

In the context of sports, tabla can refer to a draw or a tied game where neither side wins.

tabla(noun)

fB2

draw

?

a tied game or match

,

tie

?

equal score

Also:

score (plural)

?

used in plural: 'las tablas'

📝 In Action

El partido de fútbol terminó en tabla a cero.

B2

The soccer match ended in a zero-zero draw.

El ajedrecista forzó las tablas para no perder.

C1

The chess player forced the draw so as not to lose.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • empate (draw, tie)

Common Collocations

  • aceptar tablas – to accept a draw
  • quedar en tablas – to end in a draw

💡 Grammar Points

Singular vs. Plural

When talking about chess or a sports draw, it is very common to use the plural form: 'las tablas'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: tabla

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'tabla' to mean a structured list of data?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

tablero(board (game board, dashboard)) - noun
tablilla(small tablet, small board) - noun
entablar(to start (a conversation/relationship), to board up) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'tabla' and 'mesa'?

'Tabla' refers to a flat, thin piece of material (like a plank or a cutting board) or to a chart/list of data. 'Mesa' is the actual piece of furniture with legs that you use for eating or working.

Can I use 'tabla' for a whiteboard or blackboard?

Not usually. For a whiteboard or blackboard used in a classroom, the correct word is 'pizarra' or 'tablero'. 'Tabla' is generally smaller, thinner, or refers to a data structure.