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"Papa" is a form of "papa", a noun which is often translated as "potato". "Cómo es tu mamá" is a form of "cómo es tu mamá", a phrase which is often translated as "what's your mom like". Learn more about the difference between "papa" and "cómo es tu mamá" below.
la papa(
pah
-
pah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (culinary) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
2. (vegetable) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. potato
Mi tío plantó dos terrenos de papas para la cosecha de este año.My uncle sowed two lots of potatoes for this year's harvest.
3. (colloquial) (lie) (Chile) (Mexico)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Chile
Regionalism used in Mexico
a. fib
Dime dónde estuviste ayer y no me cuentes otra papa.Tell me where were you yesterday and don't tell me another fib.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
4. (religious)
a. pope
El Papa Francisco es uno de los papas más liberales en la historia de la Iglesia católica.Pope Francis is one of the most liberal Popes in the history of the Catholic Church.
cómo es tu mamá(
koh
-
moh
ehs
too
mah
-
mah
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
1. (informal) (in questions; second person singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).
a. what's your mom like (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
¿Cómo es tu mamá? - Es muy cariñosa.What's your mom like? - She's very affectionate.
b. what's your mum like (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
¿Cómo es tu mamá si es tan distinta de tu papá? - Es mucho más sociable que él.What's your mum like if she's so different from your dad? - She's much more sociable than he is.
c. what does your mom look like (related to physical appearance) (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Pepa, ¿cómo es tu mamá? ¿Te pareces a ella?Pepa, what does your mom look like? Do you look like her?
d. what does your mum look like (related to physical appearance) (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Marisa, ¿Cómo es tu mamá? - Es alta y delgada.Marisa, what does your mum look like? - She's tall and thin.
2. (informal) (in statements; second person singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).
a. what your mom is like (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Describe cómo es tu mamá. ¿Tus padres tienen una buena relación?Describe what your mom is like. Do your parents have a good relationship?
b. what your mum is like (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Sabes cómo es tu mamá. No le gusta el ruido.You know what your mum is like. She doesn't like loud noises.
c. what your mom looks like (related to physical appearance) (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Tu hermana rubia y tú morena. Me pregunto cómo es tu mamá.Your sister is a blonde and you're a brunette. I wonder what your mom looks like.
d. what your mum looks like (related to physical appearance) (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Viéndote a ti, puedo imaginarme cómo es tu mamá.Looking at you, I can imagine what your mum looks like.