vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Falla" is a form of "falla", a noun which is often translated as "defect". "Punta" is a form of "punta", a noun which is often translated as "tip". Learn more about the difference between "falla" and "punta" below.
la falla(
fah
-
yah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
a. defect
Me reemplazaron las gafas porque la primera vez había una falla en uno de los cristales.They replaced my glasses because the first time there was a defect in one of the lenses.
b. fault
Estoy llamando porque creo que el carro que me vendieron tiene una falla con la transmisión.I'm calling because I think that the car I was sold has a fault with the transmission.
c. flaw
No podemos aprobar el envío de este jersey porque tiene una falla en la manga izquierda.We can't approve this sweater for shipment because it has a flaw in the left sleeve.
d. failure
No había más remedio que aterrizar por la falla mecánica.There was nothing else to do but land because of the mechanical failure.
2. (geology)
a. fault line
Hay muchos terremotos a lo largo de esta falla.There are a lot of earthquakes along this fault line.
3. (error) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. mistake
¿Podría haber sido una falla en el informe? Aquí no aparecen esos datos.Could there have been a mistake in the report? That information isn't showing up here.
a. falla
Mi barrio me ha elegido a prender la falla la última noche de las Fallas.My neighborhood has selected me to light the falla on the last night of Fallas.
las fallas
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
5. (festival)
a. Fallas
Vamos a las Fallas, la fiesta en Valencia en honor de San José.We're going to Fallas, the festival in Valencia in honor of Saint Joseph.
la punta(
poon
-
tah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (extremity)
b. side
Mi mejor amiga vive en la otra punta de Madrid.My best friend lives on the other side of Madrid.
c. corner
Si atas las puntas del pañuelo, lucirá más lindo.If you tie the corners of the scarf, it'll look nicer.
d. end
Caminamos de punta a punta por el centro comercial en busca de unos zapatos de boda.We walked from one end of the mall to the other looking for some wedding shoes.
2. (nib)
4. (geography)
5. (colloquial) (large amount) (Southern Cone)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
b. bunch
En esa empresa no son más que una punta de ladrones.They're just a bunch of thieves in that company.
c. loads (colloquial)
Hay una punta de cosas que arreglar para la fiesta.We have loads to take care of for the party.
6. (small nail)
a. tack
La tapicería del sofá está sujetada con puntas.The couch's upholstery is held on with tacks.
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).
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
8. (greatest)
las puntas
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
9. (hair)
a. ends
Necesito ver a mi estilista para ayudarme con estas puntas abiertas.I need to see my stylist to help me with these split ends.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¿Te cortaste el cabello? - No, solo las puntas.Did you get a haircut? - No, it was just a trim.
Solo quiero cortarme las puntas.I just want a trim.
