Spanish words with double meanings

Question

I am looking for words with double meanings

For example:

muñeca wrist/doll

nada to swim/nothing

Alto; to halt/tall

Nada is a conjugation of nadar (to swim), meaning he/she/it/you swim(s), an important difference if you are learning. - afowen, Jan 19, 2011

Answer 1

In my reading I found these:

• pensado (por) - thought by, designed by (as in engineer or architect)
• quedar - to fit, situated (ex. Quito queda al oeste de Bogotá)
• arrancar - to pull out, to rev up
• poner - to start, to put
• medida - measure, as (when it is expressed as a "a medida que")
• conozer - to know, met (when in the preterit)
• poder - to be able, succeeded (when in the preterit)
• saber - to know, found out (when in the preterit)
• tener - to have, got or received (when in the preterit)
• dar - to give, to face
• blanco - white, target
• foco - focus, bulb
• querer - to want, tried (when in the preterit)
• techo - roof, ceiling
• adivinar - to guess, to be visible
• doble - double, fold
• mandar - to command, to mail
• coger - to take a taxi, to clutch
• cañón - canyon, barrel
• tenue - thin, faint or dim
• almuerzo - breakfast (in some countries), lunch

I may have more...

There is another one that kept me confused: hecho - made, fact - babalou, Jan 20, 2011

Me molesta el hecho de que hayas llegado tarde. It bothers me the fact that you have arrived late / Este lápiz fue hecho en China. This pencil was made is China - aileribel, Feb 4, 2014

Answer 2

Esposas - wives/handcuffs.

I'm not sure that that one can be 'bettered'...

My personal favorite. - KevinB, Jan 19, 2011

lol I never knew that one! - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 20, 2011

Je je je. - afowen, Jan 20, 2011

This is great - Hungerford, Jan 20, 2011

Where is the double meaning? Both keep your hands tied. jajaja - gringojrf, Oct 2, 2013

Answer 3

Give this site a look, it has a bunch.

double meanings

Excellent resource - Thanks - Esteban_317, Feb 8, 2014

Answer 4

Check out the flashcards that 'pesta' just created called " gender changers" parts 1 and 2. They are in the user generated flashcards on pages 2 and 4 at this time.

Answer 5

Hola Hungerford:

Just for your knowledge, the words with double meanings are called "double entendre".

I've only ever heard double entendre/entent used when the second meaning is sexual or at least rude. - afowen, Jan 20, 2011

A double entendre , it can have any double meaning , it depends on how you use it , Rolest is correct , good on you mate. - ray76, Feb 5, 2014

Answer 6

para for/stop

cometa (there are several of these where the el and la (gender) changes the meaning

comet/kite

Answer 7

el tiempo= time/weather

Answer 8

Perder = to lose and to waste (as in time)

something slightly different; by sound ... Ballena = whale and va llena = it's full.

Answer 9

Manzana = apple/ block ( as in block of houses)

Answer 10

mata = bush, mop of head hair, cluster of trees, card game, young tree, 3rd person present of matar.

Answer 11

cuarto = 4th and cuarto = room I've always giggled at "Es el cuarto cuarto a la derecha."

Answer 12

Ratón = computer mouse, and the furry little animal.

Answer 13

Also try here Spanish translation

Answer 14

"Di" can be either the first person singular of "dar" in the preterite meaning "I gave," or it can be the second person affirmative command of "decir" meaning "tell."

Also "siento" can mean both "I feel" and "I sit," as it's the first person singular of both sentar and sentir in the present indicative.

Answer 15

Niña.- apple of my eye/girl