bastos
/ˈbastos/
bastos is the Spanish word for the suit of clubs in a traditional Spanish deck of playing cards.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbastos/
Did you know?
- While bastos refers to the playing card suit, it is also the plural of basto, which can describe a person who is coarse or lacks refinement.
- Unlike English clubs which are stylized clovers, bastos are depicted as rough wooden clubs or cudgels. This reflects the suit's origins as a symbol of the peasantry and their simple tools.
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, the suit of bastos is associated with the element of fire or wood in esoteric interpretations of the deck.
Examples in context
- Tengo el as de bastos.I have the ace of clubs.
- Los bastos son mi palo favorito.Clubs is my favorite suit.
- ¿Cuántos bastos quedan en la mesa?How many clubs are left on the table?
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are playing a card game.
- SofíaMateo, ¿cuántos bastos tienes?Mateo, how many clubs do you have?
- MateoSolo tengo dos bastos.I only have two clubs.
- SofíaEntonces yo gano esta ronda.Then I win this round.
- MateoTienes razón, Sofía.You are right, Sofía.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bastos, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
