pila seca
/pila seka/from spelling rules
The English phrase "dry cell" is translated into Spanish as pila seca.
Pila seca is the technical term for a dry cell. In most Spanish-speaking contexts, if you are looking for a battery for a remote or a toy, you would simply ask for una pila rather than the technical pila seca.
Meaning: cell (noun)
Which one should you use?
While pila seca is the technical term for a dry cell, pila is the much more common way to refer to a battery in everyday conversation. Additionally, Batería seca is a formal term for dry cell.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form is pilas secas, where both the noun and the adjective take the plural suffix.
Did you know?
- In certain regions like Mexico, you might hear people use the word pilas to mean 'get your act together' or 'hurry up'.
- The word pila comes from the Latin word for 'pillar'. This reflects early battery designs which were literally stacked columns of metal discs.
- In some contexts, a pila can refer to a baptismal font in a church, which stems from the same Latin root for a basin or vessel.
Examples in context
- Esta máquina funciona con pilas secas.This machine works with dry cells.
- Las pilas de zinc-carbono son ampliamente utilizadas en dispositivos portátiles.Zinc-carbon dry cells are widely used in portable devices.
- No tengo pilas en mi control remotoI don't have batteries in my remote control
- No te olvides de comprar pilas secas para el relojDon't forget to buy dry cells for the watch
- La linterna usa una pila seca.The flashlight uses a dry cell.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are looking for a flashlight battery.
- DanielLucía, ¿tienes una pila seca?Lucía, do you have a dry cell?
- LucíaCreo que hay una en el cajón.I think there is one in the drawer.
- DanielLa pila seca de aquí está gastada.The dry cell from here is worn out.
- LucíaEntonces vamos a la tienda ahora.Then let's go to the store now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pila, CC BY-SA 4.0.
