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"Letra" is a noun which is often translated as "letter", and "portal" is a noun which is often translated as "front door". Learn more about the difference between "letra" and "portal" below.
la letra(
leh
-
trah
)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.
3. (music)
4. (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.
las letras
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
6. (education)
7. (short text)
a. line
Les pondré unas letras agradeciéndoles la invitación.I'll drop them a line thanking them for the invitation.
el portal(
pohr
-
tahl
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (entrance)
a. front door
El perro esperó a su dueño en el portal.The dog waited at the front door for his owner.
b. entrance hall
El príncipe y el rey se encontraron en el portal del palacio.The prince and the king met at the entrance hall of the palace.
e. gate (of a wall)
Un campesino corrió hasta el portal y avisó a los guardas de que se aproximaba el enemigo.A peasant ran to the gates and shouted to the guards that the enemy was coming.
2. (computing)
a. portal
El portal fue hackeado y muestra una página en blanco.The portal has been hacked and it's showing a blank page.
3. (religious)
a. Nativity scene
Estamos poniendo el portal porque ya se acerca la Navidad.We are putting up the Nativity scene because Christmas is coming.
los portales
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
a. arcade
Los portales de la iglesia están decorados con pinturas de los arcángeles.The arcade of the church is ornamented with paintings of the archangels.
