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"Materiales" is a form of "material", an adjective which is often translated as "physical". "Técnicas" is a form of "técnico", an adjective which is often translated as "technical". Learn more about the difference between "materiales" and "técnicas" 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.
técnico, el técnico, la técnica(
tehk
-
nee
-
koh
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
a. technical
"Infarto de miocardio" es el término técnico utilizado en la medicina para ataque al corazón."Myocardial infarction" is the technical term used in medicine for a heart attack.
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).
2. (profession)
a. technician
¿Conoces a un buen técnico? Necesito que arreglen mi computadora.Do you know a good technician? I need to have my computer fixed.
b. expert
Los técnicos han encontrado una brecha en nuestro sistema de seguridad.Experts have found a breach in our security system.
c. specialist
Los técnicos han declarado que nuestra fábrica cumple con todas las pautas medioambientales.Specialists have declared that our factory complies with all environmental guidelines.
d. repairman (of large appliances)
El técnico dijo que sería mejor comprar una lavadora nueva.The repair man said that it would be better to buy a new washer.
3. (sports)
a. coach (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Me parece que el técnico de una selección debería ser ciudadano de ese país.I think that the coach of a national team should be a citizen of that country.
b. manager (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Al técnico le mostraron una tarjeta roja por gritarle al árbitro.They showed the manager a red card for yelling at the referee.
c. trainer
Dicen que el técnico no se llevaba con el mejor jugador, y por eso se fue.They say that the trainer didn't get along with the best player, and that's why he left.
