Sargazo vs. Las algas marinas

Question

Sargazo: WR has this as "seaweed"; Spanishdict has this as "Sealentils, gulf-weed"; my dictionary has this as "gulfweed".

Also: I find the single word "alga" means "seaweed". I know (quelpo = kelp)

Question: Is their a difference or can either be used for "seaweed"? (I have been using "sargazo" -- but only talking to myself and not in a conversation).

Answer 1

"Sargazo" has a rather detailed entry on the DRAE (Dicionary of the Real Academia), but other dictionaries suggest that it is a typically Caribbean term only. In Spain, at least, you are going to see all sorts of funny faces if you try to use such a word.

Not surprising that it is a Caribbean term seeing the location of the Sargasso Sea.
http://www.google.com/search'sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=sargasso+sea

Answer 2

sargazo
m. Nombre **común de diversas algas marinas **de talo diferenciado en una parte que tiene aspecto de raíz y otra que se asemeja a un tallo,de estructura laminar y color pardo,que se halla en mares cálidos y templados de todo el mundo,en ocasiones formando grandes colonias:

Answer 3

"Sargazo" has a rather detailed entry on the DRAE (Dicionary of the Real Academia)

Yes; I read the DRAE entry before I posted. I have never used the word in conversation -- so I have not had the chance to get a reaction.

Thank you all!

Answer 4

"Sargazo" has a rather detailed entry on the DRAE (Dicionary of the Real Academia), but other dictionaries suggest that it is a typically Caribbean term only. In Spain, at least, you are going to see all sorts of funny faces if you try to use such a word.

Answer 5

Daniel, well methinks....What is sargazo'?

jeje, never heard that word before. It is alga for me .

Cool. I will use "alga". I learned seaweed as "sargazo" from my Spanish studies/reading childrens books.

Answer 6

Daniel, well methinks....What is sargazo'?

jeje, never heard that word before. It is alga for me .

Answer 7

gulfweed: any of several sargassums ; especially : a branching olive-brown **seaweed **(Sargassum natans) of tropical American seas with numerous berrylike air vesicles

Answer 8

What did yourself think?

Myself thinks:
1. It is a scientific/biological difference, one in harbors or shallow brackish water, the other in deeper water and maybe always submerged.
2. I like "sargazo" -- it's fun to say.

Answer 9

What did yourself think'