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"Carátula" is a form of "carátula", a noun which is often translated as "mask". "Portada" is a noun which is often translated as "title page". Learn more about the difference between "carátula" and "portada" below.
la carátula(
kah
-
rah
-
too
-
lah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
a. mask
Arriba de la puerta del teatro estaban colgadas las carátulas de la comedia y la tragedia.Above the theater door hung the masks representing comedy and tragedy.
2. (drama)
a. the stage
El gobierno subsidia la pantalla grande y la carátula.The government subsidizes the big screen and the stage.
b. the theater (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Belicias es el actor más codiciado de la carátula.Belicias is the most coveted actor in the theater.
c. the theatre (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Tras filmar más de 50 películas, la actriz decidió incursionar el mundo de la carátula.After shooting over 50 movies, the actress decided to enter the world of the theatre.
3. (front page) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. title page
En la carátula solo figuran el título de la novela, el nombre del autor y el de la editorial.The title page only features the name of the novel, the author, and the publisher.
a. cover
La carátula del libro es roja y el título y el autor figuran en dorado.The book cover is red and the title and the author appear in gold.
b. case
En la carátula del vídeo aparece solo el protagonista.Only the protagonist of the movie appears on the case of the video.
c. jacket (of a book or record)
Un artista callejero diseñó la carátula de nuestro disco más reciente.A street artist designed the jacket of our last album.
d. sleeve (of a disc or tape)
La carátula del disco compacto es una fotografía de la banda tocando en vivo.The sleeve of the compact disc shows a picture of the band playing live.
5. (clock or watch display) (Central America) (Mexico)
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Regionalism used in Mexico
la portada(
pohr
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tah
-
dah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (first page)
a. title page (of book)
El autor firmó mi libro a un lado de su nombre en la portada.The author signed my book next to his name on the title page.
b. cover (of magazine)
La foto del actor apareció en la portada de Vogue.The actor's picture was on the cover of Vogue.
c. front page (of newspaper)
El encabezado de la portada gritaba los resultados de las elecciones.The headline on the front page screamed the election results.
a. cover
La portada de su primer álbum llegó a ser icónica.The cover of their first album became iconic.
a. façade
Hay una gran placa con el escudo de la familia en la portada de la mansión.There's a large plaque with the family crest on the mansion's façade.
b. facade
La portada de esta casa está cubierta de miles de pedazos de vidrio de mar.The facade of this house is covered in thousands of pieces of beach glass.
