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"Pasamanos" is a form of "pasamanos", a noun which is often translated as "banister". "Baranda" is a noun which is often translated as "handrail". Learn more about the difference between "pasamanos" and "baranda" below.
el pasamanos
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (general)
a. banister (on stairs)
Voy a lustrar el pasamanos de la escalera principal.I'm going to polish the banister of the main stairs.
b. handrail
Sujétate al pasamanos. Está a tu derecha.Hold onto the handrail. It's on your right side.
la baranda(
bah
-
rahn
-
dah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
a. handrail (of stairs)
Agustín bajó la escalera principal deslizándose sobre la baranda.Agustin slid down the handrail of the main stairs.
b. banister (of stairs)
La escalera tiene barandas en los dos costados.The staircase has banisters on both sides.
c. rail (of a balcony or bridge)
Pinté la baranda del balcón de blanco.I painted the balcony rail white.
d. railing (of a balcony or bridge)
Por razones de seguridad, en el puente pusimos barandas altas.We installed high railings on the bridge for safety reasons.
2. (sports)
a. cushion (billiards)
La bola blanca no tocó la baranda ni con ninguna bola.The cue ball didn't make contact with the cushion or with any balls.
3. (colloquial) (body odor) (River Plate)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. B.O. (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Tengo que bañarme ya. Tengo una baranda terrible.I need to take a shower immediately. My B.O. is really bad.
4. (colloquial) (unpleasant smell) (Argentina)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Argentina
a. nasty smell (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¿De dónde viene esa baranda? - Probablemente de la alcantarilla.Where does that nasty smell come from? - Probably from the sewer.
