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"Material" is an adjective which is often translated as "physical", and "materia" is a noun which is often translated as "matter". Learn more about the difference between "material" and "materia" below.
material, el material(
mah
-
teh
-
ryahl
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (tangible)
a. material
Estaba muy apegada a los bienes materiales hasta que sufrió aquel accidente.She cared a lot about material possessions until she had that road accident.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
4. (substance)
a. material
¿De qué material está hecho el escritorio de tu oficina?What material is your office desk made of?
a. leather
Cómprate unos buenos zapatos de material, no esto.Buy yourself a good pair of leather shoes, not this.
7. (building material) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. bricks
Las casas de este pueblo están hechas de material.The houses of this town are made of bricks.
la materia(
mah
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teh
-
ryah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (substance)
2. (education)
a. subject
¿Qué materias vas a estudiar en el bachillerato?What subjects are you going to study in high school?
