madera de caoba
/madeɾa de kaoba/from spelling rules
The English phrase "mahogany wood" is translated into Spanish as madera de caoba.
madera de caoba refers to the reddish-brown hardwood used for high-quality furniture and musical instruments. The specific word for the material itself is caoba.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of madera (wood), de (of) and caoba (mahogany).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain regions, cedro is used as a synonym for mahogany wood.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word caoba is a feminine noun. If you use an adjective to describe the mahogany itself rather than using the full phrase madera de caoba, the adjective must be feminine, such as caoba rojiza.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word madera can describe not just the physical material but also a person's natural talent or character, such as saying someone has madera de líder to mean they are 'made of leader material'.
- The word caoba is a linguistic traveler from the Caribbean, specifically borrowed from the Taíno language.
- The phrase madera de caoba is often associated with the colonial history of the Spanish Empire, as this wood was one of the most prized exports from the Americas to Europe for royal furniture.
Examples in context
- La mesa está hecha de madera de caoba.The table is made of mahogany wood.
- Este escritorio es de madera de caoba.This desk is made of mahogany wood.
- La madera de caoba es muy resistente.Mahogany wood is very resistant.
- Buscamos un mueble de madera de caoba.We are looking for a piece of mahogany wood furniture.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are in an antique furniture store.
- Daniel¿Es este armario de madera de caoba?Is this wardrobe made of mahogany wood?
- SofíaSí, Daniel, es madera de caoba auténtica.Yes, Daniel, it is authentic mahogany wood.
- DanielTiene un color rojizo muy bonito.It has a very beautiful reddish color.
- SofíaEs una pieza excelente para tu casa.It is an excellent piece for your house.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caoba, de, madera, CC BY-SA 4.0.
