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How to Say "stains" in Spanish

English → Spanish

mancha

MAHN-chah/ˈmanʧa/

verbA2general
Use 'mancha' as a verb when referring to the action of something causing a discoloration or spot on a surface.
A person's hand holding a paintbrush actively dripping thick blue paint onto a clean light-colored wooden surface, causing a visible spreading stain.

Examples

Mi perro siempre mancha el suelo cuando come.

My dog always stains the floor when he eats.

Señora, por favor, no mancha esta tela.

Madam, please, do not stain this fabric. (Formal negative command)

Identifying the Verb

When 'mancha' is used as a verb, it means 'he/she/it stains' (present tense) or it is the informal command telling someone to 'stain' something. Context is key to telling it apart from the noun.

marcas

MAHR-kahs/ˈmaɾkas/

nounA1general
Use 'marcas' as a noun when referring to brands of products, like cars, or to marks or traces left by something.
A row of three brightly colored commercial products: a soda bottle, a cereal box, and a shoe, each featuring a distinct, simple, stylized symbol representing a brand logo.

Examples

Hay muchas marcas de coches en el mundo.

There are many car brands in the world.

Las marcas de zapatos se borraron de la arena.

The shoe marks were erased from the sand.

El equipo rompió todas las marcas en la natación.

The team broke all the records (marks) in swimming.

Gender and Number

As the plural form of the feminine noun 'marca,' you must use feminine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'las buenas marcas').

Confusing Noun and Verb

Mistake: “Using 'marcas' (noun) when the verb 'tú marcas' is needed in a sentence.”

Correction: Remember the noun usually needs an article (las marcas), while the verb does not (tú marcas).

Verb vs. Noun Confusion

Learners often confuse 'mancha' (verb) with 'marcas' (noun). Remember that 'mancha' describes the action of staining, while 'marcas' refers to the resulting spots or, more commonly, to brands.

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