baraja de cartas
/baɾaxa de kaɾtas/from spelling rules
A deck of cards in Spanish is baraja de cartas.
The phrase refers to a complete set of playing cards used for games. In many contexts, especially when playing games, the phrase de cartas is often dropped and people simply refer to the object as la baraja.
What does it mean word for word?
The word baraja refers to the deck or pack itself.
Which one should you use?
The phrase mazo de cartas is a common synonym for baraja de cartas.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, mazo de cartas is a common term for a deck of cards.
How do you pronounce it?
/baɾaxa de kaɾtas/
Did you know?
- In Spain, a traditional baraja española contains only 40 or 48 cards and lacks hearts and diamonds. Instead, it uses suits like oros (coins) and copas (cups).
- The verb barajar does not just mean to shuffle a 'baraja de cartas', it is also used figuratively to mean 'to weigh options' or 'to consider' different ideas.
- The baraja española historically replaced the suits of the Mamluk cards brought from Egypt, which is why the Spanish deck differs so significantly from the English one.
Examples in context
- El as de picas falta en esta baraja de cartas.The Ace of Spades is missing from this deck of cards.This sentence shows how to say a specific card is missing from the baraja de cartas.Tatoeba #13009228 by Eremon, translation #6082882 by CK
- Los palos en una baraja de cartas estándar son tréboles, diamantes, corazones y picas.The suits in a standard deck of cards are clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades.This sentence lists the suits found in a standard baraja de cartas.Tatoeba #5841547 by albrusgher, translation #3856330 by bobking12
- ¿Tienes una baraja de cartas?Do you have a deck of cards?
- Vamos a jugar a las cartas, necesito una barajaLet's play cards, I need a deck
- Voy a comprar una baraja de cartas nueva para nuestras reuniones de juego.I'm going to buy a new deck of cards for our game nights.
- Mis abuelos me enseñaron a jugar con naipes españoles.My grandparents taught me how to play with Spanish playing cards.
- No encuentro mi vieja baraja, pero podemos jugar con estas cartas.I can't find my old deck, but we can play with these cards.
- Mis amigos en Argentina siempre llevan un mazo de cartas para jugar en el parque.My friends in Argentina always carry a deck of cards to play in the park.
- Necesito una baraja de cartas para jugar.I need a deck of cards to play.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a café during a rainy afternoon.
- María¿Tienes una baraja de cartas?Do you have a deck of cards?
- MateoSí, la tengo en mi mochila.Yes, I have it in my backpack.
- María¡Perfecto! Vamos a jugar un poco.Perfect! Let's play a little.
- MateoMe parece muy bien, María.That sounds great to me, María.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
