cuba
/ˈkuba/
The English word 'cask' can be translated into Spanish as cuba or tonel.
Meaning: a large barrel for the storage of liquid (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| cuba | /ˈkuba/ |
| tonel | /toˈnel/ |
Both words refer to a large barrel used for storing liquids. The term tonel is frequently associated with barrels containing wine or spirits and is used in professional or historical contexts.
Which one should you use?
While both words mean cask, they have different nuances. tonel is the more common and general term for a large barrel or cask used for liquids like water or wine. In contrast, cuba often refers specifically to a large vat or tub used for storage or fermentation.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of cuba is cubas, and the plural form of tonel is toneles.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkuba/
Did you know?
- While cuba refers to a vessel, it is also the Spanish name for the island of 'Cuba', which might lead to some phonetic confusion in certain contexts.
- The word tonel is a distant cognate of the English word 'tun', which also refers to a large cask of wine or beer.
- The word tonel is actually a diminutive form. It comes from the Old French word tone, meaning 'large barrel', with a suffix added to make it smaller.
Examples in context
- En la bodega hay varios barriles de vino tinto.In the cellar, there are several casks of red wine.
- Tenemos que trasladar el tonel de whisky al almacén.We need to move the whisky cask to the warehouse.
- Vamos a añadir el vino a la barrica para su envejecimiento.We are going to add the wine to the cask for aging.
- La cuba está llena de vino.The cask is full of wine.
- Necesitamos una cuba nueva para el aceite.We need a new cask for the oil.
- El agua se guarda en una cuba.The water is stored in a cask.
Example conversation
María and Mateo are visiting a traditional vineyard.
- MaríaMira el tamaño de esa cuba, Mateo.Look at the size of that cask, Mateo.
- MateoEs impresionante, ¿qué guarda exactamente?It's impressive, what exactly does it hold?
- MaríaDice el guía que es para el mosto.The guide says it is for the grape must.
- MateoParece que esa cuba es muy antigua.It seems that cask is very old.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cask” translations and entries cuba, tonel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuba, tonel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
