What is the idiomatic Difference Between...

Question

Bueno, entiendo que hay tres, por lo menos, palabras diferentes para la palabra inglesa "Wall". Se dice en español 'muro', 'muralla' y 'pared'. Aunque, no estoy seguro si la diferencia entre ellas es regional o idiomatico (no sé si haya ninguna diferencia). Unos ejemplos me ayudarían mucho. Gracias.

Answer 1

Muro is the wall that divides the exterior part of two properties, or a contention wall.

Muralla is a large or extense wall, such as in a fortress or the Great Wall of China.

Pared is a regular internal wall in a house or building.

Good summary, but then, lizards love walls.. - annierats, Nov 15, 2011

LoL - MaryMcc, Nov 15, 2011

@Annie: a very acute observation, my rodent friend. - Gekkosan, Nov 15, 2011

Thank you very much, I thought it had something to do with a distinction like that (it's that way in Latin, which I also study). - phantom00700, Nov 15, 2011

Answer 2

Bueno, me han dicho que también haya un muro en el facebook, ¿no? Pero, como no lo uso, no estoy segura.

When you find out, please, please send the explanation to me. - annierats, Nov 15, 2011

Answer 3

Gekkosan sums it up.

I only want to add that pared ar indoor features, dividing walls or partitions.

A ' muro de contención ' is a supporting wall.

An outside wall, as in a fence, can be a 'valla de piedras' . These were built to retain livestock and are stone-walls, in English.

Where I come from and where I live, paredes can also be outdoor features. Paredes interiores y paredes exteriores. - Gekkosan, Nov 15, 2011

I believe that a 'fence' can be called a 'cerca' as well, no? - phantom00700, Nov 15, 2011

You know much better than I do Gekkosan. Fences can be cercadas, valladas, vallas, muros.. - annierats, Nov 15, 2011

I can't think of any cases right now where I would use "muro" for a fence. Cerca, cercada(o), vallas, yes. Not muro, I don't think. - Gekkosan, Nov 15, 2011