Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| yeso | /ˈʝeso/ | masculine |
| escayola | /eskaˈʝola/ | feminine |
| enlucido | /enluˈθido/ /enluˈsido/ |
masculine |
| emplaste | /emplaste/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
The terms for plaster in Spanish depend on whether you are talking about the raw material, a decorative finish or the completed coating on a wall. You can also use related verbs like estucar, emplastar and enyesar to describe the act of covering a surface with plaster.
Which one should you use?
yeso is the general term for the material itself, such as gypsum or plaster. escayola is a more technical term used for a finer, more refined type of plaster, typically used for decorative moldings or ceiling work. enlucido refers specifically to the finished layer of plaster applied to a wall to create a smooth surface. emplaste is also a masculine noun form. In a medical context, if you are referring to a plaster cast for broken bones, you should use un yeso.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
yeso and enlucido are masculine nouns, while escayola is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʝeso/
Did you know?
- The word yeso originates from the Ancient Greek gŭ́psos, which is the same root that gave English the word 'gypsum'.
- While yeso refers to the material, the verb enyesar can also be used figuratively in some regions to describe something becoming stiff or frozen.
Examples in context
- Las paredes son de escayola blanca.The walls are white plaster.This sentence uses escayola to describe the material of the walls.Tatoeba #6023168 by albrusgher, translation #3726608 by CM
- Tom está cubriendo la pared con escayola.Tom is coating the wall with plaster.This sentence uses escayola to describe the action of coating a wall.Tatoeba #6023169 by albrusgher, translation #1665319 by Amastan
- Su trabajo es cubrir las paredes con yeso.Their job is to coat the walls with plaster.This sentence uses yeso to describe the material used for coating walls.Tatoeba #6023173 by albrusgher, translation #1771257 by Amastan
- El médico le puso yeso en la piernaThe doctor put plaster on his leg
- El techo de la sala está cubierto de escayolaThe ceiling of the living room is covered in plaster
- El albañil está haciendo el enlucido de la paredThe builder is plastering the wall
- El otro día me rompí el brazo y me pusieron un yesoThe other day, I broke my arm, and they put a cast on me
- ¿Dónde puedo conseguir yeso aquí?Where can I get plaster around here?
- El yeso se secará en unas horas.The plaster will dry in a few hours.
- Asegúrate de poner el yeso correctamente.Make sure to apply the plaster correctly.
- El médico le puso un yeso en el brazo roto.The doctor put a cast on the broken arm.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and María are renovating a room in their house.
- DanielNecesito comprar más yeso para el techo.I need to buy more plaster for the ceiling.
- MaríaYo puedo ir a la tienda contigo, Daniel.I can go to the store with you, Daniel.
- Daniel¿Sabes qué marca de yeso es la mejor?Do you know which brand of plaster is the best?
- MaríaNo lo sé, preguntaremos al vendedor.I don't know, we will ask the salesperson.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “plaster” translations and entries yeso, escayola, enlucido, 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 escayola, yeso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
