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"Letras" is a plural noun which is often translated as "arts", and "artes" is a plural noun which is also often translated as "arts". Learn more about the difference between "letras" and "artes" below.
las letras(
leh
-
trahs
)A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
1. (education)
2. (short text)
a. line
Les pondré unas letras agradeciéndoles la invitación.I'll drop them a line thanking them for the invitation.
la letra
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.
5. (music)
6. (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 artes(
ahr
-
tehs
)A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
a. arts
Ella estudia una carrera en Bellas Artes, mientras su hermano estudia artes marciales.She is getting a degree in Fine Arts, while her brother is studying martial arts.
el arte
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
a. art
Visitamos el Museo de Arte Moderno en Nueva York.We visited the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
3. (ability)
4. (craftiness)
