Having difficulty with two English words for Ticket

Question

When I check the Spanish dictionary for a translation of the word "Ticket" I find there are two different words that apparently mean the same thing: BOLETO and BILETTE. Does it make a difference which word I use when in Mexico? Presumably, one buys a boleto for a train fare ticket, but in what manner does one use bilette'

Answer 1

I think that billete is used more in Spain and boleto is used more in Latin America for ticket.
Billete is also used to refer to paper money.

Answer 2

This is the way I use differentiate when in Mexico.

Boleto is used for what we would consider a ticket, like on a bus, train, entrance to the zoo, museum, etc.
Bilette is used when referenced to currency bills. Like at the cambio, quero bilettes grandes.

In most cases bilette can also be used as the word for ticket as well, and is understood, but I think Boleto is more correct.

Answer 3

hi, por example in Spain is not habitual the word uses "boleto" only for the lotery, you can say "dame un boleto de lotería", on the other hand "billete" is very used for the rest of things that can be translated for ticket, in addition the word is used very much "ticket" as in English. I hope help you. Bye

Answer 4

My dictionary says that ticket is boletA, ie, it is feminine.

Answer 5

Hi Eddy, boleto and boleta are two different things. check this in RAE:

*boleto.

(De boleta).

1. m. billete (? para ocupar asiento o para viajar).

2. m. Papeleta impresa con que se participa en algunos juegos de azar.*

boleta.

(Del it. bolletta).

1. f. Cédula que se da para poder entrar sin inconveniente en alguna parte.

2. f. Cédula que se daba a los militares cuando entraban en un lugar, señalando a cada uno la casa donde habían de alojarse.

3. f. Especie de libranza para tomar o cobrar algo.

4. f. Cédula que se insacula llevando inscrito un número, o nombre de persona o cosa.

5. f. Papelillo con una corta porción de tabaco, que se vendía al por menor.

6. f. Arg., Ur. y Ven. Multa que se cobra a causa de una infracción de tránsito. Me hicieron la boleta.

7. f. Col. Papel en el que se coacciona, chantajea o amenaza de muerte a alguien.

8. f. Cuba y Méx. Papeleta para votar en unas elecciones.

Please check mor meanings in "RAE"

Answer 6

El boleto y el billete son masculinos los dos.

Answer 7

Hola Biznaga, lo cierto es que boleta no es conocido en España. Pero al parecer sí existe.

Answer 8

Creo que existe "boleta" con el significado de papeleta para votar en algunos países, pero creo que no se usa como usamos "ticket"

Answer 9

Sí, es cierto, he agragado las definiciones de la RAE arriba.

Answer 10

hola heidita
miré tu respuesta en referencia de la RAE. usaste la palabra "AGRAGADO". no puedo encontrarla en mi diccionario. el verbo es AGRAGAR? y que quiere decir.

Answer 11

Hola Eddy, TYPO!!!!!!!! (smile)

agregado (agregar)

Answer 12

I think it should have been agregado from the verb agregar meaning to add, incorporate, or to tack on.

Answer 13

Hola Heidita
now i see. i thought you were saying that you have "verified" with the RAE, but you were saying you have "added" the RAE. that's the problem not being a native speaker. los otros autóctonos would have immediately noticed it was a spelling mistake.

Answer 14

Okay, for whatever its worth let me just add that after looking at the responses I noticed that most people were responding with the word 'Billete' but I see that the thread began with the word 'Bilette' not 'Billete' ... I think this proves the point that most people are familiar with the word 'Billete' but not with the other. Which as a matter of fact I'm not quite sure that word is a correct term, I've looked through several websites that I use to look up words including the definitive dictionary of the Real Academia Española at http://buscon.rae.es/draeI/

But I had no luck finding it... that is, until I used Google. On the very first search page I found two examples of that word on travel websites. Both examples were from Spain one was an article about the subway in Madrid and the other was about Malaga, also in Spain.

So in short if you are going to visit Mexico use the word 'Boleto'. The word 'Billete' is used for currency like the English word 'Bill'.

Therefore, in Mexico, to say "Un Billete de a veinte" means "A twenty peso bill" but "Un boleto de a veinte" means "A twenty peso ticket" (I used the word peso in the example but that is for simplification as its undefined in the sentences).

So if your ever in Madrid or Malaga let me know if they really use the word "bilette".

Answer 15

I have been to both places and yes they did use billete.