punto de partida
/punto de paɾtida/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'square one' can be translated into Spanish as punto de partida.
punto de partida is a noun used to describe the place where one begins. If you want to express the action of 'going back to square one' using a verb, you would use the idiom volver a empezar de cero, which means 'to start over from zero'.
Meaning: the place where one begins (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase punto de partida literally translates to 'starting point' or 'point of departure'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin American Spanish, the phrase desde cero is used to convey the meaning of starting from scratch or square one.
How do you pronounce it?
/punto de paɾtida/
Did you know?
- The word punto comes from the Latin pungō, which means 'to prick' or 'puncture'. This describes a point as a tiny hole made by a sharp object.
- In a physical travel context, punto de partida can refer to a literal departure gate or station rather than a figurative starting point.
- The word punto is used for both a geometric point and a full stop in punctuation, linking the start of a process to the mark that ends a sentence.
Examples in context
- Lamentablemente, tendremos que comenzar el proyecto desde el principio, ya que todo el trabajo previo se perdió.Unfortunately, we'll have to start the project from square one since all the previous work was lost.
- No te preocupes, si te equivocas, siempre puedes empezar de cero e intentarlo nuevamente.Don't worry, if you make a mistake, you can always start from scratch and try again.
- Olvidemos todo lo que sucedió y volvamos a empezar desde el principio.Let's forget everything that happened and start over from square one.
- Debido a los problemas técnicos, debemos reiniciar el proceso desde cero.Due to technical problems, we need to restart the process from square one.
- Si este plan no funciona, tendremos que volver al punto de partida.If this plan doesn't work, we will have to go back to square one.
- Debemos volver al punto de partida.We must go back to square one.
- Este es nuestro punto de partida para el proyecto.This is our starting point for the project.
- Todo el plan cambió y regresamos al punto de partida.The whole plan changed and we returned to square one.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are discussing a failed business strategy.
- SofíaEl plan no funcionó, Alejandro.The plan didn't work, Alejandro.
- AlejandroEntonces, ¿debemos volver al punto de partida?So, do we have to go back to square one?
- SofíaSí, necesito un nuevo punto de partida.Yes, I need a new starting point.
- AlejandroTe ayudaré con eso, Sofía.I will help you with that, Sofía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, punto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
