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How to Say "samples" in Spanish

English → Spanish

muestras

/mway-stras//mwestɾas/

nounA1general
Use 'muestras' when referring to physical specimens or small quantities taken for analysis, testing, or to show what something is like.
A collection of three small, distinctly colored geometric objects—a red cube, a blue sphere, and a yellow pyramid—lined up neatly on a bright white surface, representing test samples.

Examples

El laboratorio analizó las muestras de agua.

The laboratory analyzed the water samples.

La tienda da muestras gratis de perfume.

The store gives free perfume samples.

Estas son algunas muestras de su trabajo artístico.

These are some examples (samples) of her artistic work.

Gender Reminder

Remember that the singular word 'muestra' is feminine, so it takes feminine articles: 'la muestra', 'unas muestras'.

pruebas

/prweh-bahs//ˈpɾweβas/

nounB1general
Use 'pruebas' when referring to items given for trial or tasting, or when 'samples' is used more broadly to mean evidence or tests.
A large magnifying glass held over a single, small, distinct object on a surface, symbolizing evidence or proof.

Examples

Me dieron pruebas de queso en el supermercado.

They gave me cheese samples at the supermarket.

El detective busca pruebas para resolver el caso.

The detective is looking for evidence to solve the case.

No tengo pruebas, pero sé que él lo hizo.

I don't have proof, but I know he did it.

En la tienda, nos dieron pruebas gratis del nuevo queso.

At the store, they gave us free samples of the new cheese.

Samples vs. Evidence

The most common mistake is using 'muestras' when you mean 'pruebas' in the sense of evidence. Remember that 'muestras' are typically physical items collected for testing, while 'pruebas' can also mean evidence in a broader sense, or items for trial.

Related Translations

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