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"Hucha" is a noun which is often translated as "cash box", and "alcancía" is a noun which is often translated as "piggy bank". Learn more about the difference between "hucha" and "alcancía" below.
la hucha(
oo
-
chah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
a. cash box
¡Cómo pesa esta hucha! Está hasta arriba de monedas.This cash box is really heavy! It's completely full of coins.
b. money box (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
En esta hucha guardo las propinas que me dan los clientes.I keep the tips my clients give me in this money box.
c. piggy bank
Mamá, ¿puedo poner la moneda que me dio el abuelo en mi hucha?Mommy, can I put the coin Grandpa gave me in my piggy bank?
2. (colloquial) (figurative) (money saved) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. savings
Con esta hucha tengo pensado pagarme el máster que voy a hacer.I plan to pay for my master's degree with these savings.
b. nest egg (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Para dejar el trabajo y lanzarte a la aventura, como hizo ella, necesitas hacerte antes con una buena hucha.To leave your job and embark on a venture the way she did, you need to first build up a nice little nest egg.
3. (colloquial) (intergluteal cleft) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. crack (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Cada vez que se agacha ese hombre para recoger algo, se le ve la hucha. - ¡Qué horror!Every time that man bends down to pick something up, you can see his crack. - Oh, gross!
la alcancía(
ahl
-
kahn
-
see
-
ah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (coin bank) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. piggy bank (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Pongo un dólar en la alcancía cada semana.I put a dollar in the piggy bank every week.
b. money box (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
La alcancía de barro pesa mucho porque está llena de monedas.The clay money box is very heavy because it's full of coins.
2. (donation box) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. collection box
Los parroquianos ponían algo de dinero diariamente en la alcancía de la iglesia.Parishioners put some money in the church collection box every day.
