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"La astilla" is a form of "astilla", a noun which is often translated as "chip". "Astillarse" is a pronominal verb which is often translated as "to splinter". Learn more about the difference between "la astilla" and "astillarse" below.
la astilla(
ahs
-
tee
-
yah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (fragment)
a. chip
Cuando golpeó el armario con el hacha, saltaron astillas en todas direcciones.When he hit the wardrobe with the ax, chips went flying in all directions.
2. (colloquial) (payoff) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. bribe
Tenemos una grabación en la que apareces dándole una astilla a un policía.We have a tape of you giving a bribe to a cop.
b. sweetener (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Alice le dio una astilla al detective para que no inspeccionara su casa.Alice gave the detective a sweetener so he wouldn't search her house.
las astillas
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
a. kindling
Tengo cerillas, así que podemos hacer un fuego si encontramos astillas.I have matches, so we can start a fire if we find kindling.
astillarse(
ahs
-
tee
-
yahr
-
seh
)A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to splinter
La mesa se astilló durante la mudanza así que tuvimos que comprar una nueva.The table splintered during the move so we had to buy a new one.
astillar
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to splinter
La caída astilló el hueso de la pierna del jugador de baloncesto.The fall splintered the basketball player's leg bone.
