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"Spare" is an adjective which is often translated as "de sobra", and "standby" is a noun which is often translated as "la espera". Learn more about the difference between "spare" and "standby" below.
spare(
spehr
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (extra)
b. de más
I forgot my slippers! - Don't worry; I brought a spare pair.¡Olvidé mis zapatillas! - No te preocupes, traje un par de más.
c. libre
Do you have a spare seat so you can take me home?¿Puedes llevarme a casa si tienes un asiento libre?
d. de repuesto
I can't find my sunglasses, but luckily I have a spare pair in the car.No encuentro mis anteojos de sol, pero por suerte tengo un par de repuesto en el auto.
2. (austere)
3. (lean)
a. enjuto (literary)
A word or phrase restricted in usage to literature or established writing (e.g., sex, once upon a time).
There was a spare man sitting alone at the bus stop.Había un hombre enjuto sentado solo en la parada de autobús.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
4. (reserve)
a. el repuesto (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 lost my key and I don't have a spare here.Perdí las llaves y no tengo un repuesto acá.
b. el recambio (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 shop ran out of the spares I needed yesterday.La tienda se quedó ayer sin los recambios que necesitaba.
c. la pieza de repuesto (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 can't find the spare I bought to fix the washing machine.No encuentro la pieza de repuesto que compré para arreglar la lavadora.
d. la pieza de recambio (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).
The repairman didn't bring the spare for the refrigerator; he'll be back tomorrow.El técnico no tenía la pieza de recambio del refrigerador; volverá mañana.
e. la refacción (F) (Mexico)
(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).
Regionalism used in Mexico
I'm looking for this spare, can you get it?Estoy buscando esta refacción, ¿puedes conseguirla?
f. la pieza de refacción (F) (Mexico)
(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).
Regionalism used in Mexico
This spare is too small for this model of printer.Esta pieza de refacción es demasiado pequeña para este modelo de impresora.
5. (automobile)
a. la rueda de repuesto (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).
You never know when you'll need your spare, so always keep it properly pumped up.Nunca se sabe cuándo se necesitará la rueda de repuesto, así que manténla correctamente inflada siempre.
b. la rueda de recambio (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).
When you get a flat tire, you have to replace it with the spare.Cuando se pincha una rueda, hay que cambiarla por la rueda de recambio.
c. la rueda de auxilio (F) (River Plate)
(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).
When I took the spare out of the trunk, I finally found my missing earring.Cuando saqué la rueda de auxilio del maletero, por fin encontré la caravana extraviada.
d. la llanta de refacción (F) (Mexico)
(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).
Regionalism used in Mexico
Victor put the flat in the trunk and put the spare on so he could drive the car.Víctor puso la llanta ponchada en la cajuela y montó la llanta de refacción para poder manejar el carro.
6. (sports)
a. el semipleno (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).
That was my third spare tonight.Ese fue mi tercer semipleno de la noche.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
7. (to afford)
a. disponer de
I would like you to answer a few questions, if you can spare the time.Me gustaría que respondieras a algunas preguntas, si dispones de tiempo.
b. prescindir de
Can you spare a couple of people from your staff to help with my event in the park tomorrow?¿Podrías prescindir de un par de personas de tu personal para ayudar con mi evento en el parque mañana?
c. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I finished my thesis with a week to spare.Terminé la tesis con una semana de antelación.
We got to the gate with ten minutes to spare.Llegamos a la puerta de embarque con diez minutos de sobra.
8. (to give)
b. tener
Can you spare me some time to answer a couple of questions?¿Tienes tiempo para responderme un par de preguntas?
c. dedicar
Brenda was angry with her boyfriend when he told her he could only spare five minutes for her.Brenda estaba enojada con su novio porque le dijo que solo le podría dedicar cinco minutos.
d. dejar
I ran out of onions, so I asked the neighbor if she could spare me one.Me quedé sin cebollas, entonces le pregunté a la vecina si me podría dejar una.
10. (to save)
11. (to show mercy)
b. no herir (feelings)
In an effort to spare Todd's feelings, Harriet lied about why she needed to stop dating him.En un esfuerzo para no herir los sentimientos de Todd, Harriet le mintió acerca de por qué tenía que dejar de salir con él.
standby(
stahnd
-
bay
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. la persona en la lista de espera (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).
We have five standbys, but only four available seats.Tenemos cinco personas en la lista de espera, pero solo cuatro asientos disponibles.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Dave ordered pepperoni pizza, his standby.Dave pidió una pizza de pepperoni, su comida de siempre.
He didn't really want to go out with you. He was using you as a standby in case Rebecca turned him down.En realidad, no quería salir contigo. Te estaba usando como novia de repuesto en caso de que Rebecca lo rechazara.
a. el modo de espera (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 walked away from the computer for an hour and when I returned it was in standby.Me fui de la computadora por una hora y cuando volví estaba en modo de espera.
b. el stand-by (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 leave the TV on standby, it keeps consuming electricity.Si dejas la tele en stand-by, sigue consumiendo electricidad.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
a. de emergencia
There's a hurricane coming. Check to make sure the standby generator has enough gas.Viene un huracán. Asegúrate de que el generador de emergencia tiene suficiente gasolina.
a. de espera
Madeline went to the airport at the last minute and tried to get on the standby list to fly to Hawaii.Madeline se fue al úlimo momento al aeropuerto a ver si podía agregarse a la lista de espera para viajar a Hawái.
An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
a. en lista de espera
I flew standby to Cancun on Christmas day.Volé en lista de espera a Cancún el día de Navidad.
