Wednesday 16 May 2012

Plaza


Today's WOTD is: "plaza" = square

In Spanish, the noun "plaza" is a feminine noun of Latin origin the main meaning of which is square. The noun “plaza” may also be used in Spanish to refer to:
  • A vacancy or job position in a work environment;
  • A seat on a bus/ train/ plane/ etc.);
  • The public place where people would go to buy their food daily (meats, cheeses, fruit, vegetables, etc.), that is a food market;
  • A stock market;
  • A garrison town;

Some commonly used expressions containing the words "plaza" are:
  • Abrir plaza (the first bull in a bullfight does it);
  • Asentar plaza (to start service in the military/ to assert himself or herself/ to make one's mark);
  • Atacar bien la plaza (to eat loads-colloquially);
  • Cerrar plaza (the last bull in a bullfight does it);
  • Cubrir la plaza de... (to fill the vacancy of...);
  • Cubrir una plaza (to fill a vacancy);
  • Plaza de abastos (central/ wholesale market - fruit, veg, etc.);
  • Plaza de aparcamiento (reserved parking space);
  • Plaza de armas (main square);
  • Plaza de garaje (reserved parking space);
  • Plaza de toros (bullring);
  • Plaza fuerte (garrison town/ stronghold);
  • Plaza libre* (empty seat);
  • Plaza mayor (main square);
  • Plaza vacante (vacancy/ vacant position);
  • Romper plaza (the first bull in a bullfight does it);
  • Sentar plaza (to start service in the military/ to assert himself or herself/ to make one's mark);

*NB Please remember that “libre” does not mean free of charge.

Some examples of the use of the word "plaza" are:
  • Abrió plaza un toro de la casta Vistahermosa (the first was a bull from the Vistahermosa breed);
  • Cerró plaza un toro de la casta Vistahermosa (the last was a bull from the Vistahermosa breed);
  • Rompió plaza un toro de la casta Vistahermosa (the first was a bull from the Vistahermosa breed);
  • Guitarra en mano, Pedro quiso asentar plaza de músico (with his guitar Pedro wanted to assert himself as a musician);
  • Guitarra en mano, Pedro quiso sentar plaza de músico (with his guitar Pedro wanted assert himself as a musician);
  • ¡Hay que ver cómo atacas la plaza! (what spectacle to see you eat!);
  • En España hay plazas de abastos muy arquitectónicas (there are very architectural central markets in Spain);
  • Este piso tiene plaza de aparcamiento (this flat has its own garage/ parking space);
  • Este piso tiene plaza de garaje (this flat has its own garage/ parking space);
  • Muchas ciudades de las Americas tienen su plaza de armas (many American cities have a main square – usually called Plaza de Armas);
  • Muchas ciudades tienen su plaza de mayor (many cities have a main square – usually called Plaza Mayor);
  • Cartagena de Indias fue una de las plazas fuertes españolas del Caribe (Cartagena de Indias was one the Spanish strongholds in the Caribean);
  • No quedan plazas libres en ese vuelo (there are no seats left on that flight);
  • Alguna plazas de toros se remontan al siglo XVIII (some bullrings can be traced back to the 18th century);
  • Tenemos varias plazas vacantes (we have several vacancies);
  • Sólo nos falta cubrir la plaza de profesor de español (the only vacancy left is that of Spanish teacher);
  • Sólo nos falta cubrir una plaza (we have only one vacancy left);

Love-Spanish.com loves the word "plaza" in the YouTube clip: Plaza Sesamo Lola y las vocales 

For more on the word "plaza", visit: Wordreference.com/es/en/ Plaza

*NB 'Click' on the speaker icon next to the word “plaza” in the link to hear the word pronounced.

This is another Free online Spanish lesson from Love-Spanish.com. We conduct Spanish lessons online on a wide range of topics using the latest video conferencing facilities. Online lessons are the ideal way to improve listening and speaking skills. For more details on our lessons online and how to book them, please visit:

For more Free Spanish:
Follow us on:
© Copyright 2012 Love-Spanish.com. by Jose M González. All Rights Reserved.

2 comments:

Margaret M said...

Tenemos una casa en la Plaza mayor.

Fiona said...

la plaza mayor en Pollenca es uno de los sitios favoritos de mis hijos lo pasan fenomenal alli jugando con los demas allí