vs 

QUICK ANSWER
"Stain" is a noun which is often translated as "la mancha", and "spot" is a noun which is often translated as "el lugar". Learn more about the difference between "stain" and "spot" below.
stain(
steyn
)
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
noun
a. la mancha
(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).
(F)
Dish soap can help remove oil stains from your clothes.El lavavajillas ayuda en quitar machas de aceite de la ropa.
a. el tinte
(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).
(M)
I'm looking for a wood stain in light oak to stain the dining room floor.Busco un tinte de madera de color roble claro para teñir el piso del comedor.
b. la tintura
(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).
(F)
They had used a red ocher stain in the rendering of the exterior walls.Habían usado una tintura de almagre en el enlucido de las paredes exteriores.
a. la mancha
(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).
(F)
He was honorably discharged from the army without a stain on his character.Dejóel ejército con honores, con una reputación sin mancha.
b. la mácula
(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).
(F)
Your actions will be a stain on the family name.Tus accioees quedarán como una mácula en el nombre de la familia.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. manchar
His clothes were stained with blood.Su ropa estaba manchada de sangre.
a. teñir
The doors can be stained any color you want.Puedes teñir las puertas del color que quieras.
b. pintar
I bought a chair from a second-hand furniture store and I'm going to stain it.Compré una silla en una tienda de muebles de segunda mano y la voy a pintar.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. manchar
Careful with that turmeric. If you get it on your clothes, it will stain.Cuidado con la cúrcuma. Si te cae en la ropa, la va a manchar.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Media Group, Inc.
spot(
spat
)
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
noun
a. el lugar
(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).
(M)
He said we'd meet at this spot.Me dijo que nos encontraríamos en este lugar.
b. el sitio
(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).
(M)
This is the spot where the general surrendered.Este es el sitio donde se rindió el general.
c. el punto
(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).
(M)
You need to find his weak spot.Hay que encontrar su punto débil.
a. el lunar
(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).
(M)
(on material)
The dress with yellow spots is my favorite.El vestido con los lunares amarillos es mi favorito.
b. la mancha
(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).
(F)
A Dalmatian's coat is white with black spots.El pelaje del dálmata es blanco con manchas negras.
a. la mancha
(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).
(F)
There is a spot on your pants from where you were sitting on the bench.Hay una mancha en tu pantalón de donde estabas sentado en el banco.
a. el foco
(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).
(M)
Prepare spot two for our lead actor.Prepara el foco dos para el actor principal.
a. el espacio
(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).
(M)
(time slot)
Even a 30-second spot costs a lot of money.Un espacio, aunque sea de solo 30 segundos, cuesta mucho dinero.
b. el anuncio
(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).
(M)
(advertisement)
Have you heard their spot on the radio?¿Has escuchado su anuncio en la radio?
c.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
(appearance)
I'd love a regular spot on prime-time television.Me encantaría aparecer de manera regular en la televisión durante el horario estelar.
She landed a weekly spot on his show.Consiguió un contrato para aparecer en su programa todas las semanas.
6. (pimple)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
(United Kingdom)
a. el grano
(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).
(M)
Teenagers are often plagued by spots.Los adolescentes suelen sufrir mucho con los granos.
7. (difficult situation)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
(United Kingdom)
a. el apuro
(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).
(M)
I'm in a bit of a spot. Can you lend me some money?Estoy en un apuro. ¿Me puedes prestar algo de dinero?
b. el aprieto
(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).
(M)
You've put me in a spot by telling him that.Al decirle eso, me has metido en un aprieto.
8. (small amount)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
(United Kingdom)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
How about a spot of lunch?¿Qué te parece si almorzamos algo?
I think I'll do a spot of sunbathing this afternoon.Creo que voy a asolearme un poco esta tarde.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. descubrir
Did you spot the deliberate mistakes?¿Descubriste los errores intencionales?
b. encontrar
I spotted my chance and went over to introduce myself.Encontré mi oportunidad y fui a presentarme.
c. ubicar
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
(Latin America)
She's easy to spot in a crowd.Es fácil ubicarla en la muchedumbre.
d. divisar
After a week at sea, we finally spotted land.Después de una semana en altamar, por fin divisamos tierra firme.
e. reconocer
Would you be able to spot the signs of drug addiction in your own child?¿Podría usted reconocer las señales de la drogadicción en su propio hijo?
a. salpicar
The paint spotted my shirt when I was doing the ceiling.La pintura salpicó mi camisa cuando estaba haciendo el techo.
b. manchar
Her apron was spotted with cooking oil.Su delantal estaba manchado de aceite de cocinar.
a. ayudar
My training partner always spots me when I'm at the lifting bench.Mi compañera de entrenamiento siempre me ayuda cuando estoy en el banco de pesas.
b. vigilar
When attempting heavy lifts, it is essential to have someone spotting you.Cuando intentes levantar cargas pesadas, es fundamental que tengas a alguien que te vigile.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Media Group, Inc.