conchas
/kont͡ʃas/from spelling rules
The English phrase shells is translated into Spanish as conchas.
The word conchas is used to refer to both sea shells and the shells of certain mollusks.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, another commonly used term for shells is valvas, which describes the shell of certain mollusks or bivalves.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form of conchas is concha.
How do you pronounce it?
/kontʃas/
What mistakes should you avoid?
In many Latin American countries, particularly in the Southern Cone, be careful with the singular form concha, as it is a vulgar slang term for female genitalia.
Did you know?
- If you are in a shop in Mexico and ask for 'conchas', the clerk might show you a tray of sweet breads rather than sea shells.
- The name Concha is a traditional Spanish nickname for women named Concepción, referring to the Immaculate Conception.
- The Spanish word concha is used in the name of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, where the scallop shell symbol is worn by pilgrims to represent their journey.
Examples in context
- Ellos recogían conchas en la playa.They collected shells on the beach.Tatoeba #5944997 by albrusgher, translation #2292647 by Hybrid
- Tom parece haber perdido el interés en coleccionar conchas.Tom seems to have lost interest in collecting shells.Tatoeba #13707808 by mervert1, translation #6233137 by CK
- En nuestro paseo por la playa, recolectamos hermosas conchas marinas.While strolling along the beach, we collected beautiful seashells.
- Encontré unas conchas muy bonitas en la arena.I found some very beautiful shells in the sand.
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are walking along the seashore.
- AlejandroMira estas conchas, María.Look at these shells, María.
- María¡Qué lindas son! ¿Las encontraste tú?How pretty they are! Did you find them?
- AlejandroSí, las recogí cerca del agua.Yes, I picked them up near the water.
- MaríaSon perfectas para tu colección.They are perfect for your collection.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
