estaño
/esˈtaɲo/
The Spanish word for tin is estaño.
estaño is a noun used to refer to the chemical element or the metal itself.
Meaning: airtight container (noun)
Which one should you use?
Use estaño when referring to the chemical element or the metal. If you are referring to a container, such as a tin of food, use the phrase lata de conserva.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The related verb estañar means to coat with solder or to cover something with tin.
How do you pronounce it?
/esˈtaɲo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use estaño to refer to a tin can. However, you should use lata for the container.
Did you know?
- The Spanish word estaño shares a common ancestor with the Irish word stán, tracing back to a Celtic root.
- While estaño refers to the metal, the word for a tin can, lata, actually comes from the word for 'sheet', referring to the thin sheets of metal used to make them.
Examples in context
- ¿Puedes distinguir la plata del estaño?Can you distinguish silver from tin?This sentence is useful for practicing the use of estaño when distinguishing between metals.Tatoeba #1189969 by marcelostockle, translation #18461 by francaisr0wlet
- El bronce está compuesto de cobre y estaño.Bronze is composed of copper and tin.This sentence shows how to describe the composition of bronze using estaño.Tatoeba #1606493 by teskmon, translation #272012 by orcrist
- ¿Sabes cuál es la diferencia entre plata y estaño?Can you tell silver and tin apart?This sentence is useful for asking about the difference between silver and estaño.Tatoeba #1402245 by Ankio, translation #387418 by CM
- El estaño es un metal resistente y duradero.Tin is a resistant and durable metal.
- Latas de galletasTin cans of cookies
- Latas de conservasTin cans of preserves
- Latas de refrescoTin cans of soda
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are organizing the kitchen pantry.
- LucíaMira, este recipiente es de estaño.Look, this container is made of tin.
- JavierParece muy antiguo, Lucía.It looks very old, Lucía.
- LucíaSí, era de mi abuela.Yes, it belonged to my grandmother.
- JavierEl estaño es muy resistente.Tin is very resistant.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry estaño, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries estaño, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
