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"La papelera" is a form of "papelera", a noun which is often translated as "wastepaper basket". "La pluma" is a form of "pluma", a noun which is often translated as "feather". Learn more about the difference between "la papelera" and "la pluma" below.
la papelera(
pah
-
peh
-
leh
-
rah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
a. wastepaper basket (in an office or a house)
Tuve que rebuscar en la papelera para encontrar la nota con su teléfono.I had to rummage through the wastepaper basket to find the note with her phone number.
b. wastebasket (in an office or a house) (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
La papelera ya está llena; deberías vaciarla.The wastebasket is already full; you should empty it.
c. wastepaper bin (in an office or a house) (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Rompió el contrato y tiró los trozos a la papelera.She ripped up the contract, and threw the pieces in the wastepaper bin.
d. garbage can (in the street) (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
El basurero vacía las papeleras a diario.The trash collector empties the garbage cans on a daily basis.
e. rubbish bin (in the street) (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
No encontramos ni una sola papelera en todo el pueblo.We couldn't find a single rubbish bin in the entire village.
2. (plant)
a. paper mill
Cada año, las papeleras utilizan toneladas de madera en la fabricación de papel.Paper mills use tons of wood each year to make paper.
la pluma(
ploo
-
mah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (of a bird)
a. feather
El tocado de la bailarina tiene plumas y lentejuelas.The dancer's headdress has feathers and sequins.
b. quill (from a bird feather)
A ella todavía le gusta escribir sus cartas con tinta y pluma.She still likes to write her letters with ink and quill.
3. (author)
a. writer
¡Es la pluma del libro que más me gusta del mundo!He's the writer of my favorite book of all time!
4. (activity)
a. writing
La pluma siempre ha sido mi pasión, e Inglés mi clase preferida.Writing has always been my passion, and English my favorite class.
5. (crane)
a. boom
La grúa tiene una pluma telescópica para mover mercancías al buque de transporte.The crane has a telescopic boom to move goods to the shipping vessel.
6. (plumbing) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. faucet (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
A mi madre se le olvidó que había dejado la pluma de la bañadera abierta e inundó el baño.My mother forgot she had left the bathtub faucet on and flooded the bathroom.
b. tap
Si quieres beber agua de la pluma, asegúrate de hervirla por lo menos diez minutos.If you want to drink water from the tap, make sure to boil it for at least ten minutes.
a. hooker (pejorative)
Violó el código de ética de la empresa cuando se acostó con una pluma.He violated the company's code of ethics when he slept with a hooker.
