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"Mástil" is a noun which is often translated as "pole", and "asta" is a noun which is often translated as "flagpole". Learn more about the difference between "mástil" and "asta" below.
el mástil(
mahs
-
teel
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (nautical)
a. pole
No podemos armar la tienda de campaña porque nos falta un mástil.We can't put up the tent because we're missing a pole.
b. support
El marco de la cama y los mástiles son de madera.The bed frame and the supports are made of wood.
c. flagpole (for a flag)
El viento hizo que la bandera se enredara alrededor del mástil.The wind wrapped the flag around the flagpole.
d. flagstaff (for a flag)
Un hombre trepó el mástil y cortó la bandera.A man climbed the flagstaff and cut down the flag.
a. neck
Aprende a tocar el acorde de re menor en diferentes posiciones en el mástil de la guitarra.Learn to play a D minor chord in different positions along the neck of the guitar.
el asta(
ahs
-
tah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (pole)
a. flagpole
Durante la ceremonia, las autoridades izaron la bandera nacional en el asta del palacio.During the ceremony, the authorities ran the national flag up the palace flagpole.
b. mast
La bandera debe enarbolarse en un asta blanca e izarse al tope.The flag should be flown on a white mast, and run up as far as it will go.
2. (handgrip)
a. handle (for paintbrushes)
El niño no sabía qué pintar y estaba mordiendo el asta del pincel.The little boy didn't know what to paint and was chewing the handle of his paintbrush.
3. (shank)
a. shaft (of lance or spear)
Los indígenas usaban caña para hacer las astas de sus flechas.The indigenous people used to make the shafts of their spears out of canes.
4. (zoology)
a. horn (of a bull)
Una vez vi un toro herir a un torero con sus astas.I once saw a bull gore a bullfighter with its horns.
b. antler (of a deer)
A juzgar por el tamaño de las astas, ese venado es aún bastante joven.Judging by the size of its antlers, that stag is still quite young.
