Confusing English Words Challenge 11

Question

Algunas palabras en inglés pueden crear confusion en los principiantes.

Some words in English can be confusing for learners.

This one is to practice the 2 words packet and parcel

Both native Spanish and English speakers may answer - but write both Spanish and English sentences.

I would appreciate some help in checking the Spanish sentences.

Agradecería una cierta ayuda en la comprobación de las oraciones españolas.

I will "accept" the best effort after about a week

This is not so difficult but every attempt will get a vote.

NOTE - we need sentences in both Languages that illustrate how the the following are used.

a) Packet

b) Parcel

Futher explanation as to the different meanings may be given.

Please do not suggest new words.

These challenges are very interesting. If we can the week to do some recearch we learn alot. Thanks, again Ian! - bandit51jd, May 8, 2011

Answer 1

1. Parcel: She asked them (The Post Office) to re-deliver the parcel to her home

=(Ella) Les pidió que volver a entregar el paquete a su casa

The parcel of land behind the (train) station belonged to the council

=La parcela de terreno detrás de la estación de tren pertecenían al muncipio ( o... a la ayuntamiento)

2 Packet: He bought a packet of chewing gum from the supermarket

= Compró un paquete de chicle (o goma) de mascar en el supermercado

Dictionary definition: (source: Collins Concise Dictionary and Thesaurus)

packet = small parcel

parcel = 1 something wrapped up, a package 2 a distinct portion of land

(The words also have other meanings which are not relevant to this post)

Usage: We usually use them as they are defined here but there are other metaphorical meanings too. eg ''That holiday last year cost a packet!'' i.e: it was very expensive ! = ''¡Esa vacación el año pasado costó un ojo de la cara!''

I hope that helps

Good Feliz - A L L possibilites can be included here. - ian-hill, May 6, 2011

Thanks, Ian :) - FELIZ77, May 8, 2011

I had to "accept" one as promissed. This was the most interesting for me. - ian-hill, May 16, 2011

I am most grateful to be have been chosen on this occasion :) - FELIZ77, May 16, 2011

Answer 2

I bought a parcel of land. - Compré un terreno./Compré una parcela.

I mailed a parcel to my Mom. - Envié un paquete a mi madre.

I bought a packet of cigarettes. - Compré un paquete de cigarrillos.
(in American English, it would be "pack of cigarettes", and the word packet is rarely used outside of digital communications)

Very good examples Lorenzo :) - FELIZ77, May 6, 2011

indeed yes. I wondered if anyone would get the "parcel" of land meaning. - ian-hill, May 6, 2011

Yes, parcel is also a verb, but not packet; in my home town packet was another word for pocket. - Lector_Constante, May 6, 2011

Getting or copping a "Packet" has another connotation also. We used it in the Army a lot. - ray76, May 8, 2011

Answer 3

Aarrgghh! This tongue-twister from first grade is now stuck in my mind!

He put the packet in his pocket, the ticket in the tocket, and the passel in the parcel.

Pone el paquete en el bolsillo, el billete en el tocket, y el resto en la parcela.

No, it isn't supposed to make sense - but I would love some help with the Spanish. Oh, sometimes "tocket" is rendered "tucket" (like a tucker-bag).

What on earth is a passel? :) - ian-hill, May 6, 2011

A pack. - JoyceM, May 7, 2011

Sounds like "parcel" is pronounced some places in Britain. - ian-hill, May 16, 2011

Answer 4

I my experience, a packet is generally a small package whereas a parcel could be medium to large. So packet = small package & parcel = larger.

As said above, parcel shipped to mother, packet (aka carton) of cigarettes. (Hopefully) You wouldn't buy a parcel of cigarettes, and you surely wouldn't ship a packet (aka carton).

I hope you enjoy "upchucky.com" DJ - ian-hill, May 6, 2011

Lol, with mother's day weekend I haven't even been home much... however, I plan to check it out later today. =) - DJ_Huero, May 9, 2011

Answer 5

A packet ship was originally a vessel employed to carry post office mail packets to and from British embassies, colonies and outposts. In sea transport, a packet service is a regular, scheduled service, carrying freight and passengers. The ships used for this service are called packet ships or packet boats, the seamen are called packetmen and the business is called packet trade.

Packet can mean a small parcel but, originally meant a parcel of important correspondence or valuable items, for urgent delivery.[1] The French language term "Paquebot" derives from the English term "Packet Boat", but means a large ocean liner. Poster advertising a packet service, Greenock, Scotland to New York, 1823

This sense became extended to mean any regularly scheduled ship, carrying passengers, as in packet trade. The word "packet" is frequently modified by the destination, e.g. Sydney packet, or by motive force, e.g. Steam packet

Excelente! Muy informativo! Gracias, Ray - bandit51jd, May 8, 2011

Answer 6

One other definition of packet can also be a collection of papers such as those used in orientations.

Open your packets to page 8. Abrense los paquetes a la pagina 8.

That's prettymuch the only use that survives in American English. - lorenzo9, May 6, 2011

Totally agree Lorenzo. - nike907, May 7, 2011

The others are technical, digital data packets and wave packets. - lorenzo9, May 8, 2011

Answer 7

![alt text][1] Los pacquets de tejidos fueron empaquetados uniformemente entre los que estornudaban

The pacquets of tissues were parcelled evenly among those who were sneezing.

Is this gerund correct here?

[1]: http://www.kleenex.com/images/products/Facial Tissues/Anti-viral/28075-50_Azure/331x271/28075-50_Azure 331x271.jpg

Answer 8

Packet: One definition of packet as a noun is to mean a small group, such as a packet of letters or packet of cigarettes.

Used as a verb packet means to bind up in a package or parcel.

from the SD dictionary: packet

1. paquete (m) (of tea, cigarettes); bolsa (f) (bag)

My attempt for packet:

1

En mi experiencia, durante toda la vida una persona puede comprar paquetes de cigarrillos de más. Las personas que son fumadores empedernidos pueden desarrollar enfisema.

In my experience, over a lifetime a person can buy too many cigarette packets. People who are heavy smokers may develop emphysema.

Parcel: . From the SD dictionary under parcel: Porción, cantidad.

• Parcel of ground -> lote de terreno, solar

My attempt for parcel (of land):

2

Inmediatamente después del despegue y en el aire, los lotes de terreno se puede ver muy con claridad.

Immediately after takeoff and in the air, parcels of land can be seen very clearly.

Thanks for your words Bandit, American English rarely uses either of these words. Note, we don't buy cigarette packets, we buy packs or boxes of cigarettes. A parcel of land seen from the air is usually referred to as a field, a farm, or a 'lot' - nike907, May 7, 2011

To see a specific 'parcel' of land it would have to be delineated by a fence, treeline, river or other topographical device. Seeing the size of it, one would say, "look, there is a farm" Wow, that's a big field...... - nike907, May 7, 2011

Thanks for the Spanish bandit :) - ian-hill, May 8, 2011

Yes, Nike I had a difficult time with this because I learned the phrases "pack of cigarettes" and "field" for farm land, too. I really focused on the SD dictionary part to be more flexible in my thinking! Gracias para tu palabras! - bandit51jd, May 8, 2011