how to say "(kitchen) counter" in Mexican Spanish
I'm trying to write in Spanish (using the vocabulary used in México) that "I thought I put my keys on the kitchen counter, but now I can't find them." I came up with this: "Pensé que coloqué mis llaves en __________, pero ya no puedo encontrarlas."
I don't think "mostrador" or "encimera" are correct. Help, please! ?
7 Answers
In México, the most common term for counter is "la cubierta."
This has really confused me, as well. Apparently this varies greatly by region, even within Mexico. As most others have pointed out, it seems like "la cubierta" is possibly the most common in Mexico. My friend and Spanish teacher from Guadalajara has told me that there are multiple terms depending on what part of the counter you happen to be talking about. She said "la cubierta" would be correct for the part of the counter used as workspace, but the part along the wall where you may commonly store things would be called "el pretil". (When I looked up "pretil" in the Spanish-English dictionary, however, it just said "parapet"). "La barra (de cocina)" seems to be another one generally accepted in Mexican Spanish.
"La encimera", by contrast, seems to be primarily Spanish-Spanish. There are also some less common variations like "el mostrador", which in Mexican Spanish seems (according to the Mexicans I've spoken to) to be more reserved for the countertop in a shop (it's use as variant for kitchen countertop seems more common in other parts of Latin America). There's also "la mesada", which appears to be more of a South American thing.
To make this a little more confusing, an acquaintance who is from San Luis Potosí has never heard "la cubierta" used in this context. She advocates "la barra" if you happen to have stools like I do, and seconds "el pretil" as correct if you're talking about counter space along a wall, particularly where you may have storage or counter appliances. Seems like she thinks that if your situation doesn't fit any of those, "la cubierta" is possibly the next best alternative for Mexican Spanish.
On a related note, as best as I can tell, if the counter is completely detached from a wall the direct literal translation "la isla" (the island) is generally understood.
To summarize, here's what I think I'm going to go with (until someone else can straighten me out):
- most generally, use "la cubierta" (and reserve "encimera" for when I'm in Spain)
- use "la barra (de cocina)" as the next best option, and favor this one if I'm referring to a counter where there is seating
- use "el pretil" if it's a counter along a wall with limited workspace used more for keeping junk
- use "la isla" if I'm talking about what we in English would also call an "island"
I may be completely wrong here, so pardon me if any of this isn't correct. But this question has driven me nuts as this is a word I have to use frequently and it's always been unclear, so I wanted to share what I think I've found out from all the research of done. Any comments/clarifications are welcome.
We use "la barra" in Baja.
Recuerdo una vez que le pedí esta misma pregunta a mi familia anfitriona cuando vivía en México para estudiar en el verano pasado. Y estoy casi seguro que ellos me dijeron que "la barra" es la palabra que usan.
I remember one time I asked this same question to my host family when I was living in Mexico last summer to study. And I am pretty sure that they told me that "la barra" is the word that they use.
kdfore siad
In México, the most common term for counter is "la cubierta".
As far as I am aware, "cubierta" can also be a "funda" or sheath which can also be a condom in Mexico. I would be very careful in which context you use the word.
We use "mostrador" in Guatemala.
I'm trying to write in Spanish (using the vocabulary used in México) that "I thought I put my keys on the kitchen counter, but now I can't find them." I came up with this:
"Pensé que coloqué mis llaves en __________, pero ya no puedo encontrarlas. (Pensaba que coloqué las llaves en (el mostrador-or-el tope) de la cocina, pero ya no las puedo encontar).
Good luck ?
