pila de descartes
/pila de deskaɾtes/from spelling rules
The English phrase "discard pile" is translated into Spanish as pila de descartes.
This phrase refers to a stack of cards that players have played or thrown away during a game.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of pila (pile/stack), de (of) and descartes (discards/things thrown away).
Which one should you use?
In many card games, players refer to the discard pile simply as el descarte.
How do you pronounce it?
/pila de deskaɾtes/
Did you know?
- The word pila is a linguistic homonym that can refer to a stack of objects, a battery, or even a baptismal font depending on the region.
- The word descarte is also used in Spanish to describe a 'rejection' or 'elimination' of an idea or a candidate during a selection process.
- In a religious context, a pila is a baptismal font. This usage refers to the basin shape rather than a stack of items.
Examples in context
- Por favor, coloca esa carta en la pila de descartes.Please place that card in the discard pile.
- Debes tomar la primera carta del montón de descarte.You should take the top card from the discard pile.
- ¡Echa la carta en el montón!Throw the card in the discard pile!
- ¡Esa carta ha ido directo al cementerio de las cartas!That card went straight to the card graveyard!
- Toma la carta de la pila de descartes.Take the card from the discard pile.
- Pon esa carta en la pila de descartes.Put that card in the discard pile.
- ¿Puedo ver qué hay en la pila de descartes?Can I see what is in the discard pile?
- La pila de descartes es muy grande hoy.The discard pile is very large today.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are playing a card game.
- LucíaAlejandro, ¿dónde pongo esta carta?Alejandro, where do I put this card?
- AlejandroPonla en la pila de descartes, Lucía.Put it in the discard pile, Lucía.
- Lucía¿Puedo recuperar una carta de ahí?Can I take a card back from there?
- AlejandroNo, no se puede tocar la pila.No, you cannot touch the pile.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
