pizarra blanca
/piθara blanka/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'dry erase board' is translated into Spanish as pizarra blanca.
The term refers to a white board with a smooth surface designed for writing with erasable markers. While the word pizarra can refer to a traditional chalkboard, adding the adjective blanca specifies that you are referring to a white dry-erase board.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of pizarra (chalkboard/board) and blanca (white).
Which one should you use?
Pizarra blanca is the standard term, but pizarrón blanco is also used to mean a white dry erase board. For more formal contexts, you might see the phrases Pizarra de borrado en seco or Pizarra de escritura no permanente.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many Latin American countries, pizarrón blanco is a common alternative to pizarra blanca. In some regions, particularly Spain, the expression pizarra para rotuladores is used to mean a board for markers.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word pizarra is used for 'scoreboard' in sports and 'financial dashboard' in business, moving the concept of a writing board into the digital and athletic realms.
- The word pizarra likely has roots in the Basque language, possibly coming from the term *lapitz-arri, which literally means 'slate stone'.
- The word pizarra also refers to the actual metamorphic rock known as slate, which was used for writing long before white boards were invented.
Examples in context
- Durante la presentación, el expositor escribió los puntos importantes en la pizarra de borrado en seco.During the presentation, the speaker wrote important points on the dry erase board.
- Carmen, ¿puedes agarrar un marcador de la pizarra blanca, por favor?Carmen, can you please grab a marker from the white board?
- Necesito una pizarra blanca para la clase.I need a dry erase board for the class.
- ¿Dónde está la pizarra blanca?Where is the dry erase board?
- Escribe las notas en la pizarra blanca.Write the notes on the dry erase board.
Example conversation
In a modern office meeting room.
- ElenaJavier, ¿trajiste la pizarra blanca?Javier, did you bring the dry erase board?
- JavierSí, Elena, está en la mesa.Yes, Elena, it is on the table.
- ElenaPerfecto, empecemos la presentación.Perfect, let's start the presentation.
- JavierDe acuerdo, yo preparo los marcadores.Okay, I'll get the markers ready.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pizarra blanca, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pizarra, CC BY-SA 4.0.
