contrachapado
/ˌkontɾat͡ʃaˈpado/masculine
The English word plywood is contrachapado in Spanish. Wiktionary also lists triplay and contrachapeado.
Meaning: construction material (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| contrachapado | /ˌkontɾat͡ʃaˈpado/ | masculine |
| triplay | /tɾiplai/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| contrachapeado | /kontɾat͡ʃapeado/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
This term refers to the construction material.
What does it mean word for word?
The word contrachapado is literally "counter-layered". It is formed from contra- (counter/against) and chapado (layered/veneered), literally referring to the way the layers are applied.
Which one should you use?
Contrachapado is the standard term used in Spain and is generally considered more formal or technical in many other regions, whereas triplay is more colloquial in the Americas.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Triplay is the most common term for plywood in Mexico and several other Latin American countries. The expression Madera Triplay is commonly used in Latin America.
How does it change in a sentence?
The provided forms are all masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌkontɾatʃaˈpado/
Did you know?
- The root chapado comes from the word chapa, which in Spanish can mean anything from a thin sheet of metal to a door panel or even a piece of chewing gum in some regions.
- The word chapado is used for both construction plywood and gold-plated jewelry because both describe a thin layer applied to a base material.
- The word triplay is a phonetic adaptation of the English word 'triple', reflecting the historical influence of American industrial terminology on Mexican construction vocabulary.
Examples in context
- La madera contrachapada es ampliamente utilizada en proyectos de construcción y carpintería.Plywood is widely used in construction and carpentry projects.
- Hoy aprenderé cómo se dice "madera contrachapada" en español. ¡Es imprescindible para mis proyectos de carpintería!Today I will learn how to say "plywood" in Spanish. It is essential for my carpentry projects!
- El contrachapado es muy resistente.The plywood is very strong.
- Necesito comprar una lámina de contrachapado.I need to buy a sheet of plywood.
- Ese contrachapado tiene un precio muy bajo.That plywood has a very low price.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are in a hardware store looking for materials.
- Elena¿Tienes contrachapado de buena calidad?Do you have high-quality plywood?
- DanielSí, este contrachapado es el mejor que tenemos.Yes, this plywood is the best we have.
- ElenaPerfecto, dame dos láminas de ese contrachapado.Perfect, give me two sheets of that plywood.
- DanielMuy bien, Elena, te las preparo ahora.Very well, Elena, I will prepare them for you now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “plywood” translations and entries contrachapado, triplay, 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.
