chapado en oro
/t͡ʃapado en oɾo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "gold filled" is translated into Spanish as chapado en oro.
This phrase is used to describe jewelry that is not made of solid gold but instead consists of a layer of gold bonded to a base metal. While English speakers often distinguish between "gold plated" and "gold filled," the Spanish term chapado en oro is the standard term used for both thin plating and thicker layers.
Which one should you use?
In Spanish, chapado en oro is used for both thin gold plating and the thicker layers described as "gold filled" in English. For a more formal translation of "gold filled," you may use Oro Laminado.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʃapado en oɾo/
Did you know?
- If you describe a luxury car or a designer bag as chapado, you are using a slang term to call it a cheap imitation or a 'fake'.
- The word oro is a cognate of the English word 'aurum', which is the Latin name for gold and the reason for the symbol 'Au' on the periodic table.
- The word chapado comes from the verb chapar, which describes the mechanical process of cladding or covering a surface with a thin sheet of metal.
Examples in context
- El collar que lleva es de oro laminado.The necklace she is wearing is gold filled.
- Esa pulsera es de oro laminado de alta calidad.That bracelet is high-quality gold filled.
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are shopping for jewelry at a store.
- MateoMira este anillo, es muy bonito.Look at this ring, it is very pretty.
- Elena¿Es de oro real, Mateo?Is it real gold, Mateo?
- MateoNo, dice que es chapado en oro.No, it says it is gold filled.
- ElenaEntonces es perfecto para un regalo.Then it is perfect for a gift.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries en, oro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
