trapo mojado
/tɾapo moxado/from spelling rules
The English phrase "wet rag" is translated into Spanish as trapo mojado.
trapo mojado refers to a piece of cloth that has been soaked with water.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of trapo, meaning rag or cloth and mojado, meaning wet.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you might hear bayeta húmeda used for a "wet rag".
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective must take the plural ending -s, resulting in trapos mojados.
Did you know?
- In some dialects, using trapos can be a slang term for talking or gossiping, as in soltar los trapos to air dirty laundry.
- While trapo mojado is literal, Spanish speakers use ser un trapo to describe someone who has lost all their energy or willpower, much like a limp 'wet rag'.
- The word trapo shares an ancestor with the French word drapeau, which means 'flag'.
Examples in context
- Por favor, pase un trapo húmedo sobre la mesa para limpiar las manchas.Please, pass a wet rag over the table to clean the stains.
- Necesito un trapo mojado para limpiar la mesa.I need a wet rag to clean the table.
- No uses ese trapo mojado para secar el suelo.Don't use that wet rag to dry the floor.
- El trapo mojado está sobre la encimera.The wet rag is on the countertop.
Example conversation
In a kitchen, Javier is preparing to clean a spill.
- Javier¿Tienes un trapo mojado para esto?Do you have a wet rag for this?
- MaríaSí, lo dejé en el fregadero.Yes, I left it in the sink.
- JavierGracias, María, me servirá mucho.Thanks, María, it will be very helpful.
- MaríaDe nada, Javier.You're welcome, Javier.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mojado, trapo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
