puerta de malla
/pweɾta de maʝa/from spelling rules
The English phrase "screen door" is translated into Spanish as puerta de malla.
A screen door is a light door made of mesh. In Spanish, you can describe it by its material using puerta de malla or you can describe it by its function, keeping insects out, using the related term puerta mosquitera.
Meaning: A light door of mesh (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase puerta de malla is composed of puerta (door), de (of) and malla (mesh or netting).
Which one should you use?
While puerta de malla literally means "door of mesh", the form puerta mosquitera is more common in many Spanish-speaking regions because it emphasizes the door's purpose as a "mosquito door".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, a screen door may be referred to as reja mosquitera.
How do you pronounce it?
/pweɾta de maʝa/
Did you know?
- While English uses 'screen' to refer to the mesh, many Spanish speakers use the word reja, which more commonly refers to a metal grate or a cage, to describe a sturdy screen door.
- The term puerta descends from the Latin porta, making it a direct linguistic relative of the English word 'port' and 'portal'.
- The word malla is actually a distant relative of the French word 'mail', which refers to a type of heavy fabric or armor-like mesh.
Examples in context
- En mi casa, necesito reemplazar la puerta de malla.In my house, I need to replace the screen door.
- ¿Puedes cerrar la puerta con mosquitero? Los mosquitos están entrando.Can you close the screen door? Mosquitoes are coming in.
- Cierra la puerta de malla para que no entren insectos.Close the screen door so that insects don't come in.
Example conversation
María and Javier are talking in the kitchen.
- MaríaJavier, abre la puerta de malla.Javier, open the screen door.
- JavierEstá trabada, no puedo abrirla.It is stuck, I cannot open it.
- MaríaTira con más fuerza.Pull with more force.
- JavierYa está, ahora entra el aire.There it is, now the air is coming in.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, malla, puerta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
