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How to Say "plate" in Spanish

English → Spanish

plato

/PLAH-toh//ˈplato/

nounA1general
Use 'plato' when referring to the dish or plate used for serving and eating food.
A single, empty, white ceramic dinner plate resting on a surface.

Examples

Pon la comida en el plato.

Put the food on the plate.

Por favor, pon los platos limpios en la mesa.

Please, put the clean plates on the table.

Se me cayó un plato de cerámica y se rompió.

A ceramic plate fell on me and broke.

Masculine Noun

Remember that 'plato' is a masculine word, so you must use 'el' or 'un' before it: 'el plato' (the plate).

Using 'plata' instead of 'plato'

Mistake: “Dame la plata.”

Correction: Dame el plato. ('Plata' means 'silver' or 'money' in Latin America, not the eating utensil.)

disco

/DEES-koh//ˈdisko/

nounB2technical
Use 'disco' when referring to a flat, circular object, especially in technical contexts like anatomy (e.g., intervertebral disc) or sports (e.g., discus throw).
A bright red flat circular disc, similar to a frisbee, illustrated mid-flight.

Examples

El disco intervertebral se dañó.

The intervertebral disc was damaged.

El atleta lanzó el disco muy lejos en la competencia.

The athlete threw the discus very far in the competition.

Tiene un problema con el disco intervertebral.

He has a problem with his intervertebral disc.

Confusing 'plato' and 'disco'

The most common mistake is using 'disco' when you mean a dinner plate. Remember, 'plato' is for eating, while 'disco' refers to specialized flat, circular objects. You wouldn't eat off a discus!

Related Translations

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