papel arrugado
/papel aruɡado/from spelling rules
The English phrase "crumpled paper" is translated into Spanish as papel arrugado.
papel arrugado refers to paper that has been crushed into folds or wrinkles.
What does it mean word for word?
The term consists of papel, meaning paper and arrugado, which is the past participle of the verb arrugar (to wrinkle or to crease), meaning wrinkled or crumpled.
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing the plural "crumpled papers", both the noun and the adjective must take the plural suffix, resulting in papeles arrugados.
How do you pronounce it?
/papel aruɡado/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the verb arrugar can be used figuratively to mean 'to chicken out' or shrink back in fear. To arrugarse is to lose courage in a challenging moment.
- The verb arrugar can also be used metaphorically in some Spanish-speaking regions to mean 'to be stingy' or 'to be cheap' with money.
- The word papel is used in many idiomatic Spanish expressions that have nothing to do with writing, such as hacer el papel de, which means 'to play the role of'.
Examples in context
- Tira el papel arrugado a la basura.Throw the crumpled paper in the trash.
- Tira ese papel arrugado a la basura.Throw that crumpled paper in the trash.
- No quiero este papel arrugado para mi dibujo.I don't want this crumpled paper for my drawing.
- Hay un montón de papel arrugado en el suelo.There is a pile of crumpled paper on the floor.
Example conversation
Mateo is cleaning up his desk in the living room.
- Sofía¿Qué haces con ese papel arrugado, Mateo?What are you doing with that crumpled paper, Mateo?
- MateoSolo estoy limpiando mi escritorio, Sofía.I am just cleaning my desk, Sofía.
- SofíaParece que tienes mucho desorden.It looks like you have a lot of mess.
- MateoSí, pero ya casi termino.Yes, but I am almost finished.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
