la maleta
/la maleta/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "the suitcase" is la maleta.
la maleta refers to a rectangular bag with a handle used for carrying clothes and belongings while traveling.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the specific phrase la maleta de mano is used to refer to carry-on luggage or hand luggage.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun maleta is feminine, which is why it is preceded by the feminine article la. To express the plural, "the suitcases", you use las maletas.
How do you pronounce it?
/la maleta/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word maleta is used in the idiom hacer las maletas, which can mean both the literal act of packing and the metaphorical decision to leave a relationship or a job permanently.
- The word maleta is actually a diminutive form. It is built from the word mala, which historically referred to a large trunk or chest, plus the suffix -eta to indicate a smaller version.
- In certain regions like El Salvador, people use wordplay involving the word maleta to joke around, similar to how they might swap 'yes' for the name 'Simón'.
Examples in context
- ¿Me pasarías la maleta, por favor?Would you hand me the suitcase, please?This sentence is useful for practicing a polite request to have la maleta handed to you.Tatoeba #2259923 by cueyayotl, translation #2259922 by _undertoad
- La maleta solo contenía ropa sucia.The suitcase contained nothing but dirty clothes.This sentence shows how to describe the contents of la maleta.Tatoeba #9017757 by Shishir, translation #52369 by CK
- ¿Puedes arreglártelas para llevar la maleta tú solo?Can you manage to carry the suitcase by yourself?This sentence is useful for asking if someone can manage to carry la maleta on their own.Tatoeba #1687038 by teskmon, translation #52365 by CK
- Necesito empacar todo en la valija antes de ir al aeropuerto.I need to pack everything in the suitcase before going to the airport.
- ¿Dónde está mi maleta? No la encuentro.Where is my suitcase? I can't find it.
- No olvides llevar tu maleta de mano contigo en el avión.Don't forget to take your carry-on luggage with you on the plane.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are at the airport ready to depart.
- Sofía¿Dónde dejaste la maleta?Where did you leave the suitcase?
- JavierEstá en el maletero del coche.It is in the car trunk.
- SofíaVale, yo llevo la maleta.Okay, I will carry the suitcase.
- JavierGracias, Sofía, es muy pesada.Thanks, Sofía, it is very heavy.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries la, maleta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
