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"Ala" is a form of "ala", a noun which is often translated as "wing". "Aleta" is a noun which is often translated as "fin". Learn more about the difference between "aleta" and "ala" below.
la aleta(
ah
-
leh
-
tah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (animal)
a. fin
Entré en pánico cuando vi la aleta del tiburón saliendo del agua.I started to panic when I saw the shark's fin coming out of the water.
Mi pez de colores tiene las aletas muy bonitas.My goldfish has really pretty fins.
2. (anatomy)
a. wing
El paciente recibió cuatro puntos de sutura en la aleta de la nariz.The patient needed four stitches on the wing of his nose.
b. flared part
Lisa tiene un piercing en la aleta de la nariz y otro en la lengua.Lisa has a piercing in the flared part of her nose and another one on her tongue.
3. (culinary)
a. fin
Comimos una sopa de aleta de tiburón en el restaurante chino cercano.We ate shark fin soup at the nearby Chinese restaurant.
a. flipper
El buzo se colocó la máscara, el esnórquel y las aletas, y se zambulló en el mar.The diver put on his mask, snorkel, and flippers and dove into the sea.
5. (vehicle)
a. fender (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
El mecánico le colocó nuevas aletas al auto.The mechanic put new fenders on the car.
b. wing (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
La colisión dañó la aleta y el capó del auto.The wing and the hood of the car were damaged in the collision.
6. (aviation)
a. blade
Las aletas del helicóptero se quebraron y cayó a tierra.The blades of the helicopter broke off and it fell to the ground.
el ala(
ah
-
lah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (anatomy)
a. wing (of a bird, bat or insect)
Me encontré un pájaro con un ala rota.I found a bird with a broken wing.
2. (aviation)
a. wing
La ventanilla de mi asiento daba a las alas del avión.The window beside my seat looked out over the wings of the airplane.
a. wing
El incendio empezó en el ala norte del edificio.The fire started in the north wing of the building.
4. (sports)
5. (military)
6. (faction)
a. wing
El ala izquierda del partido quería convocar elecciones.The left wing of the party wanted to hold elections.
a. eaves
El ave construyó un nido bajo el ala del tejado.The bird built a nest under the eaves of the roof.
a. leaf
Compré una mesa extensible con dos alas laterales.I bought an extending table with two side leaves.
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).
