Inklingo

How to Say "bucket" in Spanish

English → Spanish

balde

BAHL-dehˈbalde

nounA1general
Use 'balde' for a portable container, often open-topped, typically used for carrying liquids or materials like sand, especially in informal or outdoor settings.
A bright blue metal bucket with a silver handle sitting on a wooden floor.

Examples

El niño lleva un balde azul para recoger arena en la playa.

The boy is carrying a blue bucket to collect sand at the beach.

Todo mi esfuerzo fue en balde; no logré convencerlo.

All my effort was in vain; I didn't manage to convince him.

En esta tienda, si compras dos camisas, la tercera te sale de balde.

In this store, if you buy two shirts, the third one is for free.

Bucket vs. Free vs. Vain

When 'balde' stands alone, it's a bucket. But when you add 'de' or 'en' before it, the meaning changes completely to 'for free' or 'in vain'.

The 'De' and 'En' rule

To say something is free, use 'de balde'. To say something was a waste of time, use 'en balde'. These phrases never change their ending, even if the thing you are talking about is plural.

Using 'balde' alone for 'free'

Mistake: “La entrada es balde.”

Correction: La entrada es de balde (or 'gratis'). You must use 'de' to give it the meaning of 'free of charge'.

cubo

koo-boˈku.βo

nounA2general
Use 'cubo' for a more general-purpose container, often cylindrical, which can refer to a bucket for water or cleaning, but also commonly refers to a trash bin or waste receptacle.
A bright red plastic bucket with a silver metal handle, sitting on a patch of green grass.

Examples

Por favor, saca el cubo de basura, está lleno.

Please take out the trash bin, it is full.

Necesito un cubo de agua para limpiar el suelo.

I need a bucket of water to clean the floor.

Los niños hicieron castillos de arena con sus cubos en la playa.

The children made sandcastles with their pails at the beach.

Masculine Noun

Remember that 'cubo' is a masculine word, so you must use masculine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'el cubo', 'un cubo grande').

Confusing 'cubo' and 'caja'

Mistake: “Using 'caja' when referring to a bucket/pail.”

Correction: 'Caja' means 'box.' Use 'cubo' or 'balde' for the container used for water or trash.

Confusing 'balde' and 'cubo'

The most common mistake is using 'cubo' when you specifically mean a bucket for carrying water or sand, like at the beach. While 'cubo' *can* mean bucket, it's more frequently used for 'trash bin' or 'waste container'. 'Balde' is the safer, more direct translation for a typical bucket used for carrying things.

Related Translations

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