lentes de contacto
/lentes de kontaɡto/from spelling rules
In Spanish, contact lenses is translated as lentes de contacto.
lentes de contacto refers to small plastic lenses placed directly on the eye to correct vision or change eye color. To express the act of wearing them, you can use the verbs usar (to use) or llevar (to carry/wear).
Which one should you use?
While lentes de contacto is the full, formal term, the word lentillas is a common, shorter way to say contact lenses and is frequently used in casual conversation.
How do you pronounce it?
/lentes de kontaɡto/
Did you know?
- Because 'lente' and 'lenteja' (lentil) share a similar root and sound, some humorous linguistic jokes in Spanish play on the small, round shape of both objects.
- The word contacto shares a common ancestor with the English word 'tangible', as both stem from the Latin 'tangere', meaning 'to touch'. This reflects the physical contact the lens makes with the eye.
- The word lentillas is a diminutive form of 'lente', which suggests the small, delicate nature of the lenses. This linguistic quirk is how the common term evolved in many Spanish-speaking regions.
Examples in context
- Uso lentes de contacto.I wear contact lenses.This sentence is useful for stating that you wear lentes de contacto.Tatoeba #1579858 by marcelostockle, translation #253826 by CK
- ¿Por qué no usas lentes de contacto?How about wearing contact lenses?This sentence is useful for asking a question about wearing lentes de contacto.Tatoeba #1543413 by marcelostockle, translation #328826 by fcbond
- ¿Has encontrado tus lentes de contacto?Have you found your contact lenses?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has found their lentes de contacto.Tatoeba #1284018 by marcelostockle, translation #54814 by CK
- ¿Tienen lentes de contacto?Do you have contact lenses?
- ¿Usas lentes de contacto?Do you wear contact lenses?
- Él/ella usa lentes de contactoHe/she wears contact lenses
- Necesito lentes de contacto de colorI need colored contact lenses
- Busco lentes de contacto para astigmatismoI'm looking for contact lenses for astigmatism
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are at an eye doctor's office.
- AlejandroElena, ¿prefieres usar gafas o lentes de contacto?Elena, do you prefer wearing glasses or contact lenses?
- ElenaPrefiero los lentes de contacto porque son más cómodos.I prefer contact lenses because they are more comfortable.
- AlejandroYo necesito comprar unos lentes de contacto nuevos.I need to buy some new contact lenses.
- ElenaEl doctor puede ayudarte con eso hoy.The doctor can help you with that today.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries contacto, de, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
