vasito dosificador
/basito dosifikadoɾ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "medicine cup" is translated into Spanish as vasito dosificador.
This phrase refers to a small plastic cup used to measure a specific dose of liquid medication.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of the diminutive vasito (little cup) and dosificador (dispenser or dose-measurer).
Which one should you use?
You may also use the form vaso dosificador, which is the non-diminutive version. It is also correct and is used when referring to the object without the diminutive nuance.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, as in "medicine cups", you must use vasitos dosificadores. Both the noun and the adjective must take the plural suffix -s.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the diminutive -ito in vasito is used not just for size but to make the medicine seem less intimidating or more 'friendly' for a patient.
- While vasito describes the container, the word dosificador is also used in Spanish to describe the automated machines in vending parlors that dispense products.
- The root word vaso shares a linguistic ancestor with the English word 'vase', as both trace back to the Latin 'vasum', meaning a vessel or container.
Examples in context
- Pásame un vasito para medir el jarabe, ¿por favor?Pass me a little cup to measure the syrup, please?
- ¿Tienes una copita para el medicamento?Do you have a little cup for the medicine?
- Busca el vasito dosificador en la caja.Look for the medicine cup in the box.
- Usa el vasito dosificador para el jarabe.Use the medicine cup for the syrup.
- El vasito dosificador está muy sucio.The medicine cup is very dirty.
Example conversation
Lucía is helping Mateo take his cough medicine at home.
- Lucía¿Dónde está el vasito dosificador, Mateo?Where is the medicine cup, Mateo?
- MateoEstá sobre la mesa de la cocina.It is on the kitchen table.
- LucíaToma, aquí tienes el vasito dosificador.Here, you have the medicine cup.
- MateoGracias, Lucía, ya me lo tomo.Thanks, Lucía, I will take it now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vasito, CC BY-SA 4.0.
