cola del pan
/kola del pan/from spelling rules
The English phrase "bread line" is translated into Spanish as cola del pan.
The phrase is used to describe a line of people waiting for food, often in contexts of scarcity or economic hardship.
Which one should you use?
You can also use fila del pan to express the same idea, as the word fila can be used instead of cola to mean a line or row of people.
How do you pronounce it?
/kola del pan/
Did you know?
- The word cola used in cola del pan literally means 'tail'. It is a cognate of the French word queue which also means both a line of people and a tail.
- In Spanish, cola is a homonym with three distinct meanings. Depending on the context, it can mean a line of people, a tail or a type of glue.
- While cola del pan is common, some regions use fila instead. In certain contexts, fila implies a more organized or military-style alignment than the more casual cola.
Examples in context
- La cola para obtener pan se extendía por varias cuadras.The bread line extended for several blocks.
- Todos esperaban pacientemente en la fila de pan.Everyone patiently waited in the bread line.
- La fila del pan era interminable porque todos necesitaban comida.The bread line was endless because everyone needed food.
- En la época de escasez, se formaba una fila para el pan en la panadería del barrio.During the time of scarcity, a bread line would form at the neighborhood bakery.
- Estaban esperando en la cola del pan desde muy temprano.They were waiting in the bread line since very early.
- La cola del pan es muy larga hoy.The bread line is very long today.
- Hay mucha gente en la cola del pan.There are many people in the bread line.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are discussing an old photograph of a city.
- LucíaMira esta foto de la cola del pan.Look at this photo of the bread line.
- MateoParece que había mucha hambre entonces.It seems there was a lot of hunger back then.
- LucíaSí, la cola del pan era enorme.Yes, the bread line was enormous.
- MateoEs triste ver cómo sufría la gente.It is sad to see how people suffered.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cola, del, pan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
