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"Mariquita" is a noun which is often translated as "ladybug", and "petaca" is a noun which is often translated as "cigarette case". Learn more about the difference between "mariquita" and "petaca" below.
la mariquita(
mah
-
ree
-
kee
-
tah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (insect)
a. ladybug (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
¿Viste que hay una mariquita en la hoja del arce?Did you see that there's a ladybug on the maple leaf?
b. ladybird (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
La mariquita voló de la planta a mi brazo.The ladybird flew from the plant onto my arm.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
3. (extremely offensive) (homosexual man)
A word or phrase that is gravely offensive and taboo in all contexts.
a. fag (extremely offensive) (United States)
A word or phrase that is gravely offensive and taboo in all contexts.
Regionalism used in the United States
b. fairy (extremely offensive) (United States)
A word or phrase that is gravely offensive and taboo in all contexts.
Regionalism used in the United States
c. poof (extremely offensive) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is gravely offensive and taboo in all contexts.
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
4. (extremely offensive) (coward)
A word or phrase that is gravely offensive and taboo in all contexts.
a. wimp (pejorative)
An offensive word or phrase used to degrade a person or group of people based on race, gender, sexual preference, etc. (e.g., redneck).
la petaca(
peh
-
tah
-
kah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
a. cigarette case
Si se te antoja fumar, puedes tomar un cigarro de mi petaca.If you feel like smoking, you can take a cigarette from my cigarette case.
a. tobacco pouch
Saqué la petaca y me lié un cigarro con el tabaco que quedaba dentro.I took my tobacco pouch out and rolled a cigarette with the tobacco that was left in it.
3. (bottle)
a. hip flask
Mi abuelo llevaba encima una petaca con whisky para tomarse un trago y calentarse en invierno.My grandpa carried a hip flask with whisky in it so he could have a swig to get warm in winter.
4. (piece of luggage) (Andes) (Guatemala) (Mexico) (Nicaragua)
Regionalism used in Guatemala
Regionalism used in Mexico
Regionalism used in Nicaragua
a. suitcase
Llevo tanta ropa para el viaje en la petaca que no puedo cerrarla.I have so many clothes for the trip in my suitcase that I can't close it.
5. (colloquial) (anatomy) (El Salvador) (Mexico) (Nicaragua)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in El Salvador
Regionalism used in Mexico
Regionalism used in Nicaragua
a. buttock
Anabel lleva unos pantalones tan cortos que se le ven las petacas.Anabel is wearing such skimpy shorts that you can see her buttocks.
b. butt cheek (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
Mari tiene un tatuaje de una rosa en la petaca derecha.Mari has a tattoo of a rose on her right butt cheek.
a. bodypack transmitter
El presentador se colocó la petaca bajo el cuello de su camisa para que el público no pudiera verla.The presenter tucked the bodypack transmitter under his shirt collar so that the audience couldn't see it.
b. bodypack
Antes del debate, el técnico de sonido comprobó la batería de las petacas de todos los participantes.The sound engineer checked the batteries in all participants' bodypacks before the debate.
