decapante
/dekapante/from spelling rules
The English phrase "paint remover" is translated into Spanish as decapante.
The term is used to describe a chemical substance used to strip or remove paint from a surface. In a hardware store context, you can ask for un decapante to refer to the substance itself.
Which one should you use?
While decapante is a standard term, quitapintura is a common alternative compound noun used to mean "paint remover".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the term decapante is frequently used to describe a paint remover.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word decapante can function as both a noun and an adjective. The plural form is decapantes.
How do you pronounce it?
/dekapante/
Did you know?
- The word decapante is a linguistic cousin of the English word 'decapitate'. While the English word describes removing a head, the Spanish term refers to stripping the 'head' or topmost layer of a surface.
- Spanish uses a productive 'quita-' prefix to create many cleaning products, such as quitaesmalte for nail polish remover and quitagrasas for degreaser.
- In industrial metallurgy, decapante refers to a 'pickling' agent used to strip oxidation from metal, a process entirely different from removing paint.
Examples in context
- Necesito comprar un decapante para la madera.I need to buy a paint remover for the wood.
- El decapante es muy fuerte y peligroso.The paint remover is very strong and dangerous.
- Usa el decapante con mucho cuidado.Use the paint remover with great care.
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are in a hardware store.
- Sofía¿Tienes un decapante para quitar la pintura vieja?Do you have a paint remover to remove the old paint?
- JavierSí, tenemos este decapante en gel.Yes, we have this gel paint remover.
- SofíaPerfecto, me llevaré este para mi proyecto.Perfect, I will take this one for my project.
- JavierMuy bien, Sofía. ¿Necesitas algo más?Very well, Sofía. Do you need anything else?
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
