precaución suelo mojado
/pɾekauθjon swelo moxado/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'caution wet floor' is translated into Spanish as precaución suelo mojado.
This phrase is a warning used to alert people that a floor is slippery due to water. While precaución suelo mojado is a common way to express this, if you are speaking to someone directly to warn them of a hazard, it is more natural to say ¡Cuidado! (Watch out/Careful!).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a literal combination of precaución (caution), suelo (floor/ground) and mojado (wet).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many Latin American countries, the word piso is used instead of suelo to refer to the floor.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, the adjective mojado (wet) follows the noun suelo (floor) to describe it.
Did you know?
- In Spain, the word suelo can refer to both the floor of a room and the ground outdoors, while piso often refers specifically to an apartment or a story of a building.
- The word suelo shares its roots with the English word 'soil'. Both come from the Latin 'solum', meaning ground or a foundation.
- If you see a sign that says suelo resbaladizo, it is a more specific warning than suelo mojado. It translates to 'slippery floor', warning you of the actual danger rather than just the presence of water.
Examples in context
- Gracias por el aviso. Tendré cuidado.Thanks for the warning. I'll be careful.
- Precaución, piso mojado. Utilice la ruta alterna.Caution, wet floor. Please use the alternative route.
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are walking into a cleaned lobby.
- ElenaTen cuidado, Mateo, dice precaución suelo mojado.Be careful, Mateo, it says caution wet floor.
- MateoNo vi el cartel, gracias Elena.I didn't see the sign, thanks Elena.
- ElenaCamina despacio por el pasillo.Walk slowly through the hallway.
- MateoEstá bien, iré con cuidado.All right, I will go carefully.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mojado, suelo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
