trunk or treat
/tɾunk oɾ tɾeat/from spelling rules
The phrase "trunk or treat" is used in Spanish to refer to a Halloween event where people collect candy from the decorated trunks of parked cars.
This phrase refers to a specific Halloween tradition where participants visit parked cars to receive treats from their decorated trunks.
How do you pronounce it?
/tɾunk oɾ tɾeat/
Did you know?
- In Spain and much of Latin America, the word for 'trunk' of a car is maletero, but if you used the word for an elephant's trunk, trompa, you would confuse everyone at the event.
- In some bilingual communities, the phrase is jokingly translated as maletero o truco, mixing the English 'trick or treat' structure with the Spanish word for 'trunk'.
- While 'trunk' translates to maletero in Spain, people in Mexico and several other Latin American countries use the word cajuela to describe the part of the car used for these events.
Examples in context
- Vamos al trunk or treat de la iglesia.We are going to the church's trunk or treat.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are planning their Halloween costumes.
- ElenaDaniel, ¿qué disfraz quieres para el trunk or treat?Daniel, what costume do you want for the trunk or treat?
- DanielQuiero ser un pirata, Elena.I want to be a pirate, Elena.
- Elena¡Genial! Podemos decorar el coche como un barco.Great! We can decorate the car like a boat.
- DanielSerá el mejor trunk or treat del barrio.It will be the best trunk or treat in the neighborhood.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
