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"Material" is a noun which is often translated as "el material", and "stuff" is a noun which is often translated as "las cosas". Learn more about the difference between "material" and "stuff" below.
material(
muh
-
tir
-
i
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uhl
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (substance)
a. el material (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The box was lined with some sort of metallic material.La caja estaba forrada de algún tipo de material metálico.
2. (cloth)
b. el tejido (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I need an opaque material to make the curtains for the bedroom.Necesito un tejido opaco para hacer las cortinas del dormitorio.
3. (content)
a. el material (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
You'll have no shortage of material writing a book on that subject.Si piensas escribir un libro sobre ese tema, no te faltará material.
b. la documentación (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I went to the library to search for material for my research project.Fui a la biblioteca a buscar documentación para mi proyecto de investigación.
4. (education)
a. el material (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
These worksheets the teacher gave us are part of the course material.Estas hojas de ejercicios que nos dio la profesora son parte del material del curso.
5. (equipment)
a. el material (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The builders brought all their materials with them.Los albañiles trajeron sus propios materiales.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
He is agile, but he is not goalkeeper material.Es ágil, pero no tiene madera de portero.
I was never considered manager material in the company.En la empresa nunca se me consideró como un posible directivo.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
7. (physical)
a. material
He started as a scammer, lured by the idea of material gain with no effort.Empezó como estafador, alentado por la idea del beneficio material sin esfuerzo.
8. (relevant)
a. importante
The good salary was a material reason to continue in the company.El buen sueldo era un motivo importante para seguir en la empresa.
b. pertinente
There was no material evidence to prove the author's guilt.No había pruebas pertinentes para probar la culpabilidad del autor.
stuff(
stuhf
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (colloquial) (matters)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
2. (colloquial) (substance)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
b. las cosas (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Do you want chocolate sprinkles on your ice cream? - No, thank you. I don't really like the stuff.¿Te pongo chispas de chocolate en el helado? - No, gracias, no me gustan mucho esas cosas.
c. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Do you want tomato ketchup? - No thanks. I never eat the stuff.¿Te traigo ketchup? - No, gracias, nunca tomo.
This stuff tastes horrible!¡Esto tiene un sabor horrible!
3. (colloquial) (belongings)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
b. los chismes (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
When she asked to borrow my stuff, I didn't mean she could sell it.Cuando me pidió que le dejara mis chismes, no le di permiso para que pudiera venderlos.
4. (colloquial) (ideas)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. el cuento (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
If you really believe that stuff then you are just too gullible.Si realmente te crees ese cuento, eres una persona muy ingenua.
5. (slang) (drugs)
A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).
a. la mercancía (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Do you have some of that good stuff you sold me last week?¿Tienes de la mercancía buena que me vendiste la semana pasada?
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
6. (to fill)
7. (to put)
a. meter
Can you stuff the sleeping bag into that backpack?¿Puedes meter el saco de dormir dentro de esa mochila?
8. (taxidermy)
a. disecar
The old lady who lives in my neighborhood stuffs all her dogs after they die.La viejita que vive en mi vecindario diseca todos sus perros cuando mueren.
