tara
/TAH-rah/
defect
A chip in the bowl is considered a tara (defect).
tara(noun)
defect
?general flaw in an object or person
,flaw
?imperfection
blemish
?small physical mark
,psychological hang-up
?mental or emotional issue (informal)
📝 In Action
El coche fue devuelto por una tara de fábrica en el motor.
B1The car was returned due to a factory defect in the engine.
No es mala persona, pero tiene una tara emocional que le impide confiar.
B2He's not a bad person, but he has an emotional flaw (or hang-up) that prevents him from trusting.
Revisaron la fruta en busca de cualquier tara antes de empacarla.
B1They checked the fruit for any blemishes before packing it.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Check
Remember that 'tara' is a feminine noun, so you always use 'la tara' or 'una tara', even though it ends in '-a' like many feminine nouns.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing with 'tarro'
Mistake: "Using 'tarro' (jar/can) when you mean 'tara' (defect)."
Correction: They sound similar but have completely different meanings. Remember 'tara' relates to imperfection.
⭐ Usage Tips
Informal Usage
When talking about people, 'tara' can sometimes be used informally or humorously to mean a strange habit or a minor obsession, similar to 'hang-up' in English. Be aware that the related adjective 'tarado/a' can be offensive.
The empty box represents the tara, or the weight of the packaging.
tara(noun)
tare
?weight of packaging
,tare weight
?logistics/commerce term
deduction
?subtraction of weight
📝 In Action
Para calcular el peso neto, hay que restar la tara del envase.
C1To calculate the net weight, you must subtract the tare weight of the container.
La báscula está configurada para descontar la tara automáticamente.
B2The scale is set up to deduct the tare automatically.
⭐ Usage Tips
Technical Use
This meaning is highly specific to commerce and transportation. If you are not working in those fields, you will almost always use 'tara' to mean 'defect'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tara
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'tara' to mean a flaw or defect?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'tara' a strong or harsh word?
When referring to an object's defect, it is neutral. However, when used to describe a person's mental or emotional flaw, it can be quite strong or even offensive, especially the related word 'tarado/a.' Use caution when applying it to people.
How is 'tara' related to the verb 'tarar'?
'Tarar' is the verb used in commerce to measure the weight of a container and set the scale to zero, effectively subtracting the 'tara' (tare weight) so you only measure the contents.