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"Alcahuete" is a noun which is often translated as "go-between", and "a" is a preposition which is often translated as "to". Learn more about the difference between "alcahuete" and "a" below.
el alcahuete, la alcahueta(
ahl
-
kah
-
weh
-
teh
)This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
1. (matchmaker)
a. go-between
Los jóvenes amantes le pidieron a Paula que les sirviera de alcahueta para encontrarse clandestinamente.The young lovers asked Paula to serve as a go-between and help them meet in secret.
2. (dealer in prostitutes) (Bolivia) (Nicaragua) (Puerto Rico)
Regionalism used in Bolivia
Regionalism used in Nicaragua
Regionalism used in Puerto Rico
a. pimp
Carmen acusó a su alcahuete de quedarse con todo su dinero y maltratarla.Carmen accused her pimp of taking all her money and abusing her.
b. procurer
Esos hombres que ofician de alcahuetes de las chicas pobres de su comunidad no tienen vergüenza.Those men who serve as procurers of poor, young girls from their community have no shame.
c. procuress (feminine)
Antonia lleva años de alcahueta en el pueblo.Antonia has been operating as a procuress in this town for years.
3. (busybody)
a. gossip
Sarah es una alcahueta que pasa todo el día pendiente de lo que hacen los demás.Sarah is a gossip who spends all day worrying about what other people are doing.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
4. (theater)
a. drop curtain
Ya están levantando el alcahuete para que comience el segundo acto.They are already raising the drop curtain for the start of the second act.
a, la a(
ah
)A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g., He ran through the door.).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Podía respirar a duras penas.He was hardly able to breathe.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¡A fregar los platos!Go do the dishes!
¡A la cama!Off to bed!
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Me encantaría ganar dinero a espuertas.I would love to earn lots of money.
Llovía a cántaros.It was pouring.
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
An abbreviation is the shortened form of a word or group of words (e.g., "UFO" = "unidentified flying object"; "p." = "page").
a. A
El circuito transporta una corriente de 1 A.The circuit carries a current of 1 A.
La intensidad de la corriente eléctrica se mide en A.The intensity of an electric current is measured in A.
