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"Cifras" is a form of "cifrar", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to encode". "Letras" is a form of "letras", a plural noun which is often translated as "arts". Learn more about the difference between "cifras" and "letras" below.
cifrar(
see
-
frahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to encode
A ver si descifras los significados secretos que el autor cifró dentro del texto.See if you can decipher the secret meanings the author has encoded within the text
b. to write in code
Antes, solía cifrar los mensajes para que nadie los entendiera.Before, I used to write messages in code so that no one could understand them.
c. to code
Los científicos pueden recuperar la información cifrada en nuestro ADN.Scientists can retrieve information coded in our DNA.
a. to pin
Muchos alumnos cifraron todas sus esperanzas en obtener buenas notas en este examen pero reprobaron.Many students pinned all their hopes on getting a good result on this exam and they failed.
b. to place
Ciframos nuestras esperanzas en este nuevo producto porque creemos que se venderá bien.We're pinning our hopes on this new product because we think it will sell well.
3. (to value)
a. to estimate
Los expertos cifran las pérdidas sufridas tras el apagón en cientos de miles de dólares.Experts estimate losses as a result of the outage at hundreds of thousands of dollars.
b. to calculate
Es difícil cifrar las ganancias obtenidas tras el cambio de director de la empresa.It's difficult to calculate the benefits resulting from the company's change of CEO.
cifrarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to be pinned (hopes)
Todas las esperanzas de Julio para el futuro se cifran en que consiga este trabajo.All Julio's hopes for the future are pinned on him getting this job.
b. to come down
El fracaso del programa se cifra en su formato monótono.The failure of the program comes down to its monotonous format.
las letras(
leh
-
trahs
)A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
1. (education)
2. (short text)
a. line
Les pondré unas letras agradeciéndoles la invitación.I'll drop them a line thanking them for the invitation.
la letra
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
a. handwriting
Siempre se ha dicho que los médicos tienen muy mala letra.It's always been said that doctors have really sloppy handwriting.
b. writing
¿Qué dice aquí? No te entiendo la letra.What does it say here? I can't read your writing.
5. (music)
6. (finance)
a. installment (payment) (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Hoy pagué la última letra del televisor.I paid the last installment for the television today.
b. instalment (payment) (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Todavía nos quedan cuatro letras para acabar de pagarlo.We still have four instalments left to finish paying for it.
c. bill (document)
Fueron tiempos difíciles. Continuamente nos llegaban letras que no podíamos pagar.They were difficult times. We continuously received bills we couldn't pay.
a. literal meaning
Ateniéndose a la letra de la ley, el consumo de esta droga es ilegal.Sticking to the literal meaning of the law, the use of this drug is illegal.
