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"Tap" is a noun which is often translated as "el grifo", and "spot" is a noun which is often translated as "el lugar". Learn more about the difference between "tap" and "spot" below.
tap(
tahp
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
c. la canilla (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).
Don’t leave the tap running while you brush your teeth.No dejes la canilla abierta cuando te lavas los dientes.
a. la llave del gas (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).
Have you turned the tap off at the main?¿Has cerrado la llave principal del gas?
a. la espita (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).
Abigail opened the tap and drew off a small quantity of brandy for me to try.Abigail abrió la espita y sacó una pequeña cantidad de coñac para que lo probara.
4. (light blow)
b. el golpecito (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).
Amelia felt a tap on her shoulder.Amelia sintió un golpecito en el hombro.
a. el micrófono de escucha (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 politician suspected there was a tap and tried to disable it.El político sospechaba que había un micrófono de escucha e intentó inutilizarlo.
6. (dance)
c. el zapateo (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).
Fred Astaire was very adept at tap and ballroom dancing.Fred Astaire era muy experto en el zapateo y el baile de salón.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. dar un golpecito a
Emma tapped her nose to show that it was a secret.Emma se dio unos golpecitos en la nariz para indicar que era un secreto.
c. tamborilear con
The driver tapped his fingers on the steering wheel as he waited at the lights.El chofer tamborileaba con los dedos sobre el volante mientras esperaba en el semáforo.
9. (to wiretap)
a. intervenir (telephone)
The police admitted that they tapped his phone.La policía admitió que habían intervenido su teléfono.
b. pinchar (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Careful what you say. I think our phone has been tapped.Ten cuidado con lo que dices. Creo que han pinchado nuestro teléfono.
c. interceptar (conversation)
They were tapping his conversations with the Moscow agent.Estaban escuchando sus conversaciones con el agente en Moscú.
10. (to make use of)
a. explotar
The project aims to tap underground water resources for the benefit of coastal regions.El objetivo del proyecto es de explotar depósitos de agua subterránea en beneficio de las zonas costeras.
b. aprovechar
Western provinces are making great efforts to tap natural resources to boost their economy.Las provincias del oeste están haciendo grandes esfuerzos para aprovechar los recursos naturales y así impulsar su economía.
a. sacar
Don’t listen to him. He’s trying to tap you for money.No le hagas caso. Está intentando sacarte dinero.
12. (slang) (vulgar) (to have sex with)
A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
c. cogerse (vulgar) (Central America) (Mexico) (Southern Cone)
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Regionalism used in Mexico
Did he already tap his girlfriend?¿Ya se cogió a la novia?
13. (to appoint)
a. nombrar
It’s rumored that the general will be tapped to be Secretary of Defense.Se dice que van a nombrar Ministro de Defensa al general.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. dar golpecitos
The doorbell didn’t work, so I tried tapping on the window.No funcionaba el timbre, así que intenté hacerme escuchar dando golpecitos en la ventana.
c. repiquetear
When we woke up, all we could hear was the rain tapping against the window.Cuando nos despertamos, lo único que se oía era la lluvia que repiqueteaba contra la ventana.
taps
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
15. (military)
a. el toque de silencio (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).
A bugle player played taps at the corporal's funeral.Un clarinero tocó el toque de silencio en el funeral del cabo.
spot(
spat
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (place)
2. (dot)
a. el lunar (M) (on material)
(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 dress with yellow spots is my favorite.El vestido con los lunares amarillos es mi favorito.
3. (stain)
a. la mancha (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).
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.
4. (spotlight)
a. el espacio (M) (time slot)
(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).
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) (advertisement)
(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).
Have you heard their spot on the radio?¿Has escuchado su anuncio en la radio?
c. no direct translation (appearance)
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
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.
b. el aprieto (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).
You've put me in a spot by telling him that.Al decirle eso, me has metido en un aprieto.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word 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.).
9. (to find)
b. encontrar
I spotted my chance and went over to introduce myself.Encontré mi oportunidad y fui a presentarme.
c. ubicar (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
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?
10. (to stain)
11. (weightlifting)
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.
