plata
/ˈplata/feminine
The English word silver is translated into Spanish as plata. Wiktionary also lists argento.
Meaning: metal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| plata | /ˈplata/ | feminine |
| argento | /aɾˈxento/ | masculine |
Plata refers to the metal silver. In many Spanish-speaking contexts, it is also used informally to mean money.
Which one should you use?
While plata is the noun for the metal itself, plateado is the adjective used to describe something that is silver-colored.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Plata is a feminine noun. The form argento is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈplata/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the adjective plateado when they actually mean the noun plata (the metal itself).
Did you know?
- The term plata comes from an Ancient Greek word meaning 'wide' because silver was frequently crafted into wide sheets.
Examples in context
- Eso no es plata.That's not silver.This sentence is useful for denying that an object is made of the metal plata.Tatoeba #10031624 by manufrutos, translation #10013884 by shekitten
- Esto no es plata.This isn't silver.Tatoeba #9685175 by Shishir, translation #1946303 by CM
- ¿Es plata de verdad?Is this real silver?This sentence is useful for asking if an object is made of real plata.Tatoeba #9884145 by Shishir, translation #5078443 by Lindoula
- Ese automóvil tiene un color plateadoThat car has a silver color
- ¡Necesito la guita para comprar esa joya de plata!I need the money to buy that silver jewel!
- 35 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are looking at jewelry in a shop.
- Javier¿Es este collar de plata, Sofía?Is this necklace made of silver, Sofía?
- SofíaSí, Javier, es de plata auténtica.Yes, Javier, it is authentic silver.
- JavierLa plata brilla mucho bajo esta luz.The silver shines a lot under this light.
- SofíaEs un regalo muy elegante para ti.It is a very elegant gift for you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “silver” translations and entries plata, argento, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries argento, plata, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
