resta
/ˈresta/
The English phrase 'subtraction' in Spanish is resta.
The term resta refers to the mathematical calculation of subtraction. When performing a subtraction involving negative numbers, the phrase menos (minus) is often used before a number.
Meaning: calculation (noun)
Which one should you use?
While resta is the noun for the mathematical operation, restar is the verb used to describe the action of subtracting. The noun resta is the direct antonym of the noun suma (addition).
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun resta is derived from the verb restar (to subtract).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈresta/
Did you know?
- The word restar shares a root with the English word 'restore', as both stem from the Latin 'restare', meaning 'to stay behind' or 'to remain'.
- The verb restar is used in daily conversation to mean 'to remain', as in solo resta esperar, which means 'all that remains is to wait'.
- The word restar can be used in the phrase restar importancia, which means 'to downplay' or 'to diminish the importance' of a matter.
Examples in context
- En el primer grado de la escuela primaria, los niños aprenden a sumar y restar.In the first grade of primary school, children learn addition and subtraction.This sentence is useful for seeing how children learn both addition and the noun resta in a school context.Tatoeba #11562622 by carlosalberto, translation #11562616 by carlosalberto
- Realiza la resta de los siguientes valores.Perform the subtraction of the following values.
- Necesitamos restar el número dos de esta ecuación.We need to subtract the number two from this equation.
- La sustracción de estos términos es fundamental en este cálculo.The subtraction of these terms is crucial in this calculation.
- Quítale diez a este número.Subtract ten from this number.
- 10 menos 5 es igual a 5.10 minus 5 equals 5.
- La resta es una operación básica.Subtraction is a basic operation.
- No entiendo cómo hacer esta resta.I don't understand how to do this subtraction.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are studying mathematics together at a library.
- Lucía¿Me ayudas con esta resta, Alejandro?Can you help me with this subtraction, Alejandro?
- AlejandroClaro, Lucía, déjame ver el problema.Sure, Lucía, let me see the problem.
- LucíaEs que no comprendo la resta.It's just that I don't understand the subtraction.
- AlejandroEs sencilla, solo sigue estos pasos.It is simple, just follow these steps.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry resta, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries resta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
