Inklingo

How to Say "board" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “board” is “tabla” — use 'tabla' for a flat, rigid piece of material, most commonly wood, like a plank or a sheet..

tabla🔊A1

Use 'tabla' for a flat, rigid piece of material, most commonly wood, like a plank or a sheet.

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bordo🔊A2

Use 'a bordo' to mean 'on board' a ship, plane, or other vehicle.

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panel🔊A2

Choose 'panel' for a flat section of a larger structure, often used for display or construction, like a solar panel or a wall panel.

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tablero🔊A2

Use 'tablero' for the surface of a game, like a chessboard, or for a dashboard or control panel.

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junta🔊A2

Use 'junta' for an administrative council or a meeting of a local governing body, like a neighborhood association.

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tomen🔊A2

Use 'tomen' (from 'tomar') when referring to the action of getting on or taking a vehicle.

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comisiónB1

Use 'comisión' for a group of people officially delegated to perform a specific function, often a governmental or organizational committee.

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comitéB1

Use 'comité' for an executive or standing committee, often smaller and more focused than a 'comisión'.

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tarjeta🔊B1

Use 'tarjeta' specifically for electronic components like a graphics card or a circuit board.

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consejo🔊B1

Use 'consejo' for a deliberative body, especially a 'consejo de administración' (board of directors) or a city council.

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mesa🔊B2

Use 'mesa' to refer to a board or committee, particularly in a business context like a 'mesa directiva' (board of directors).

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gabinete🔊B2

Use 'gabinete' for a group of advisors, most commonly a 'gabinete ministerial' (ministerial cabinet).

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English → Spanish

tabla

TAH-blah/ˈtaβla/

nounA1general
Use 'tabla' for a flat, rigid piece of material, most commonly wood, like a plank or a sheet.
A close-up illustration of a single, flat, unfinished rectangular piece of wood, known as a board.

Examples

Necesitamos una tabla de madera para reparar la cerca.

We need a wooden board to repair the fence.

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

Please use the cutting board for the bread.

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

My brother bought a new surfboard for the summer.

Gender Check

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

bordo

/BOR-doh//ˈboɾ.ðo/

nounA2general
Use 'a bordo' to mean 'on board' a ship, plane, or other vehicle.
A high quality simple colorful storybook illustration showing the smooth wooden deck and white railing of a ship against a bright blue ocean background.

Examples

Todos los pasajeros están a bordo del avión.

All the passengers are on board the plane.

El capitán miró por encima del bordo del barco.

The captain looked over the side of the boat.

La policía revisó la documentación a bordo del vehículo.

The police checked the documentation inside the vehicle.

The fixed phrase 'a bordo'

When talking about being 'on' a vehicle (ship, plane, train), Spanish uses the fixed phrase 'a bordo' (on board). Even though 'a' usually means 'to,' here it acts like 'on' or 'at'.

Using 'en' instead of 'a'

Mistake: “Estamos en bordo del barco.”

Correction: Estamos a bordo del barco. Always use 'a' with 'bordo' in this context.

panel

/pah-nel//paˈnel/

nounA2general
Choose 'panel' for a flat section of a larger structure, often used for display or construction, like a solar panel or a wall panel.
A wooden wall featuring a distinct rectangular panel section.

Examples

Instalamos un panel solar en el techo para ahorrar energía.

We installed a solar panel on the roof to save energy.

El panel de control tiene muchos botones rojos.

The control panel has many red buttons.

Necesitamos otro panel de madera para terminar la pared.

We need another wooden panel to finish the wall.

Making it Plural

Since 'panel' ends in a consonant, you add '-es' to make it plural: 'los paneles'.

Plural Spelling

Mistake: “los panels”

Correction: los paneles

tablero

/tah-BLEH-roh//taˈβleɾo/

nounA2general
Use 'tablero' for the surface of a game, like a chessboard, or for a dashboard or control panel.
A wooden chess board with a few game pieces on it.

Examples

Pon las piezas sobre el tablero de ajedrez.

Put the pieces on the chessboard.

El carpintero cortó un tablero de madera para la mesa.

The carpenter cut a wooden board for the table.

Gender Tip

Since this word ends in '-o', it is almost always masculine. You should use 'el' or 'un' with it.

Tablero vs. Tabla

Mistake: “Using 'tabla' for a game board.”

Correction: Use 'tablero' for a board with a specific design or function (like a game or a panel), and 'tabla' for a raw piece of wood or a list of data.

junta

HOON-tah/ˈxunta/

nounA2general
Use 'junta' for an administrative council or a meeting of a local governing body, like a neighborhood association.
Three stylized people sitting around a round table, engaged in discussion, symbolizing a meeting or general assembly.

Examples

La junta de vecinos se celebrará el martes por la noche.

The neighborhood meeting will be held on Tuesday night.

El director convocó una junta urgente para revisar las finanzas.

The director called an urgent meeting to review the finances.

Always Feminine

Remember to use the feminine articles: 'la junta' or 'una junta'. It is always treated as a singular group.

tomen

TOH-men/ˈtomen/

verbA2general
Use 'tomen' (from 'tomar') when referring to the action of getting on or taking a vehicle.
A vibrant illustration showing a large yellow bus driving down a street near a simple bus stop.

Examples

Recomiendo que tomen el metro en lugar del taxi.

I recommend that they take the subway instead of the taxi.

Si tienen prisa, ¡tomen el camino más corto!

If you (plural formal) are in a hurry, take the shortest path!

Transportation Choice

In Spanish, you 'take' transportation (tomar el bus) rather than 'ride' it, similar to English, making this usage easy to remember.

comisión

nounB1formal
Use 'comisión' for a group of people officially delegated to perform a specific function, often a governmental or organizational committee.

Examples

La comisión de urbanismo aprobó el nuevo proyecto.

The urban planning committee approved the new project.

comité

nounB1formal
Use 'comité' for an executive or standing committee, often smaller and more focused than a 'comisión'.

Examples

El comité se reunió para discutir la propuesta de ley.

The committee met to discuss the bill proposal.

tarjeta

/tar-HEH-tah//taɾˈxeta/

nounB1technical
Use 'tarjeta' specifically for electronic components like a graphics card or a circuit board.
A rectangular green circuit board covered in small stylized electronic components and simple copper traces.

Examples

Mi computadora necesita una nueva tarjeta gráfica.

My computer needs a new graphics card.

La tarjeta madre es el componente principal del sistema.

The motherboard (mother card) is the main component of the system.

consejo

/kon-SEH-ho//konˈse.xo/

nounB1formal
Use 'consejo' for a deliberative body, especially a 'consejo de administración' (board of directors) or a city council.
Five diverse, formally dressed people seated around a large, round wooden table in a meeting room, intensely focused on a central point of discussion, representing a council.

Examples

El consejo de la ciudad aprobó la nueva ley.

The city council approved the new law.

La decisión fue tomada por el consejo de administración de la empresa.

The decision was made by the company's board of directors.

El Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU se reunirá mañana.

The UN Security Council will meet tomorrow.

Confusing the Two Meanings

Mistake: “Me dio un consejo de la ciudad.”

Correction: This sounds like 'He gave me a city council'. The context almost always makes the meaning clear. A sentence can even have both: 'El consejo de la ciudad me dio un buen consejo.' (The city council gave me some good advice.)

mesa

/MEH-sah//ˈme.sa/

nounB2formal
Use 'mesa' to refer to a board or committee, particularly in a business context like a 'mesa directiva' (board of directors).
Four diverse professional adults sitting around a large round table, gesturing and discussing a serious topic, representing a committee or board.

Examples

La mesa directiva se reunirá mañana para tomar una decisión.

The board of directors will meet tomorrow to make a decision.

Se organizó una mesa redonda con expertos para debatir el problema.

A round table discussion with experts was organized to debate the problem.

El presidente de la mesa electoral contó los votos.

The chairman of the polling station board counted the votes.

gabinete

/gah-bee-neh-teh//ɡaβiˈnete/

nounB2formal
Use 'gabinete' for a group of advisors, most commonly a 'gabinete ministerial' (ministerial cabinet).
A group of professional people in suits sitting around a large wooden table in a formal meeting room.

Examples

El presidente anunció cambios en su gabinete ministerial.

The president announced changes in his ministerial cabinet.

El gabinete se reunió de urgencia esta mañana.

The cabinet met urgently this morning.

Always Masculine

This word is always masculine ('el gabinete'), even if the people inside the group are all women.

False Friend Alert

Mistake: “Using 'gabinete' for a kitchen cupboard.”

Correction: In most Spanish-speaking countries, use 'armario' or 'alacena' for kitchen storage. 'Gabinete' is for government or specific professional rooms.

Board as a Group vs. Physical Object

The most common confusion is between words for physical 'boards' (like 'tabla', 'panel') and words for governing groups ('consejo', 'junta', 'comité', 'comisión', 'mesa', 'gabinete'). Always consider if you're talking about a flat surface or a body of people.

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