bandera estadounidense
/bandeɾa estadounidense/from spelling rules
The phrase "american flag" in Spanish is bandera estadounidense.
bandera estadounidense is used to refer to the national flag of the United States of America.
What does it mean word for word?
The word estadounidense literally means "from the United States" (derived from Estados Unidos).
Which one should you use?
While you might hear bandera americana, this is considered colloquial and can be ambiguous because América refers to the entire continent in Spanish. Using bandera estadounidense is the precise way to refer specifically to the flag of the United States to avoid such confusion. For a very formal context, you may also use La enseña de los Estados Unidos.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective must take the plural suffix: banderas estadounidenses.
How do you pronounce it?
/bandeɾa estadounidense/
Did you know?
- The formal term enseña used for the flag comes from the verb enseñar, meaning 'to show' or 'to teach'. In a naval context, it refers to the flag used to show a ship's nationality.
- The word bandera is built from banda, meaning 'strip' or 'band', combined with the suffix -era. This describes the physical construction of early flags as strips of fabric.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, it is common to refer to the 'Stars and Stripes' not as a translation of the English phrase, but as la bandera de las barras y las estrellas.
Examples in context
- En la bandera estadounidense hay cincuenta estrellas.There are fifty stars on the American flag.This sentence uses the form bandera estadounidense to note the number of stars on the flag.Tatoeba #1578898 by Alba, translation #897321 by Scott
- Hay rayas en la bandera estadounidense.There are stripes on the American flag.This sentence uses the form bandera estadounidense to mention the stripes on the flag.Tatoeba #9455053 by carlosalberto, translation #9455071 by carlosalberto
- Hay cincuenta estrellas en la bandera estadounidense.There are fifty stars in the American flag.This sentence uses the form bandera estadounidense to state the number of stars contained within the flag.Tatoeba #1207111 by lorcon, translation #772760 by marloncori
- La bandera estadounidense es un símbolo de libertad y democracia.The American flag is a symbol of freedom and democracy.
- Hoy izaremos la enseña de los Estados Unidos en la ceremonia oficial.Today we will hoist the American flag in the official ceremony.
- Me encanta el diseño de la bandera de los Estados Unidos.I love the design of the American flag.
- Vamos a ver el desfile con la bandera gringa bien en alto.We are going to see the parade with the American flag held high.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are looking at a souvenir shop window.
- Alejandro¿Viste esa bandera estadounidense en la vitrina?Did you see that american flag in the window?
- ElenaSí, es muy bonita.Yes, it is very pretty.
- AlejandroElena, ¿crees que la vendan?Elena, do you think they sell it?
- ElenaCreo que sí, vamos a preguntar.I think so, let's go ask.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bandera, estadounidense, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
