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"Rastrillo" is a form of "rastrillo", a noun which is often translated as "rake". "Pala" is a noun which is often translated as "shovel". Learn more about the difference between "pala" and "rastrillo" below.
la pala(
pah
-
lah
)
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
feminine noun
a. shovel
Necesito una pala más grande para quitar la nieve de la puerta.I need a bigger shovel to remove the snow from the doorway.
b. spade
¿Dónde está la pala para cavar en el huerto?Where's the garden spade?
c. dustpan (used with a broom or brush)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
(Latin America)
Tendrás que utilizar el cepillo y la pala para barrer porque la aspiradora no funciona.You'll have to use the broom and dustpan to sweep up as the vacuum cleaner isn't working.
a. spatula (for lifting or turning)
Te iría mejor comprar una pala de madera para no rayar la sartén.You'd be better off buying a wooden spatula so you don't scratch the frying pan.
b. slice (for lifting or turning)
Dame la pala para servir la tarta.Will you pass me the cake slice?
c. fish knife (piece of cutlery)
A la hora de comer pescado, hay que tomar el tenedor con la mano izquierda y la pala con la derecha.When eating fish, you should hold the fork in your left hand and the fish knife in your right.
d. scoop (for sugar or flour)
Puedes usar una cuchara en lugar de una pala de azúcar.You could use a spoon instead of a sugar scoop.
e. shovel (baker's)
Mi abuelo colecciona palas de panadero.My grandfather collects baker's shovels.
f. peel (for pizza or bread)
Espolvoree un poco de harina sobre la pala de madera para que la masa de pizza no se pegue.Sprinkle some flour on the wooden peel so that the pizza dough doesn't stick.
a. paddle (table tennis or paddle tennis)
Regionalism used in the United States
(United States)
La pala de ping-pong tiene que ser más ligera.The ping-pong paddle needs to be lighter.
b. bat (table tennis or paddle tennis)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
(United Kingdom)
La pala está muy desgastada de darle a la pelota.The bat is very worn from hitting the ball.
c. racket (frontenis)
Traen sus palas para jugar un par de partidas de frontenis.Bring your rackets so we can play a couple of rounds of frontenis.
a. paddle
Las palas de madera hacen que me salgan ampollas.Wooden paddles give me blisters.
a. blade
Se rompió una de las palas de la hélice.One of the propeller blades broke.
a. upper (part above sole)
Las palas de estos zapatos son de piel.The upper on these shoes is made of leather.
b. vamp
A word or phrase that is only used by experts, professionals, or academics in a particular field (e.g., exposition).
(technical)
(part covering front of foot)
La pala y la parte superior son sintéticas.The vamp and upper are synthetic.
7.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(anatomy)
a. (upper) front tooth
Cuando era pequeña, tenía unas palas enormes.When I was a child, my upper front teeth were enormous.
8.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(guile)
a. cunning
Sobrevive gracias a su pala.He survives by his cunning.
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el rastrillo(
rrahs
-
tree
-
yoh
)
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
masculine noun
a. rake
Antonio usó el rastrillo para formar una pila de hojas secas en el jardín.Antonio used the rake to make a pile of dry leaves in the garden.
Tráeme el rastrillo, por favor. Voy a recoger las hojas en el patio delantero.Fetch me the rake, please. I'm going to clean up the leaves in the front yard.
a. portcullis
El caballero esperaba que el rastrillo se abriera a tiempo para poder escapar a los que lo perseguían.The knight hoped the portcullis would open in time to escape his pursuers.
a. yard sale
Regionalism used in the United States
(United States)
Mira este espejo que compré este fin de semana en un rastrillo.Look at this mirror I bought this weekend at a yard sale.
b. jumble sale
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
(United Kingdom)
Encontré un disco raro de Billie Holiday en un rastrillo.I found a rare Billie Holiday record at a jumble sale.
4. (for shaving)
Regionalism used in Mexico
(Mexico)
a. razor
¿Has visto mi rastrillo? Me quiero afeitar y no lo encuentro.Have you seen my razor? I want to shave and I can't find it.
b. safety razor
Compré un paquete de rastrillos desechables para el viaje.I bought a pack of disposable safety razors for the trip.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Media Group, Inc.