mate

USAGE NOTE
The words "mates" and "mate" can be used in Spanish to refer to the subject of mathematics. The adjective "mate" is sometimes invariable, which means its form does not change according to the gender or number of the noun it describes.
el mate, la mate(
mah
-
teh
)
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
masculine noun
a. mate
El jugador consiguió mate en cinco movimientos.The player got a mate in five moves.
b. checkmate
Esto es un mate de torre con ayuda de un caballo.This is checkmate using a rook helped by a knight.
a. maté
El mate es una infusión típica argentina.Maté is a typical Argentinian herbal infusion.
a. gourd
Mi abuelo todavía prefiere preparar la infusión en un mate.My grandfather still prefers to make his maté in a gourd.
4.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(brain) (Southern Cone)
a. head
¿Estás bien del mate?Are you all right in the head?
a. smash (tennis or badminton)
El tenista tenía un mate muy potente.The tennis player had a very powerful smash.
b. slam dunk (basketball)
El equipo ganó el partido gracias a un mate espectacular.The team won the match thanks to a beautiful slam dunk.
c. dunk (basketball)
¿Me enseñas cómo hacer un mate en baloncesto?Will you show me how to do a dunk in basketball?
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
feminine noun
6. (mathematics)
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
(Central America)
Regionalism used in Mexico
(Mexico)
a. math
Regionalism used in the United States
(United States)
¿Qué tal el examen de mate? - No manches, está bien papita.How's the math exam? - Oh my gosh, it's so easy.
b. maths
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
(United Kingdom)
La profe de mate es bien buena onda.The maths teacher is really nice.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
adjective
a. matte
El dependiente me dio la pintura mate en vez de la de brillo.The store clerk gave me matte paint instead of gloss.
b. matt
Quiero pintar la pared blanco mate.I want to paint the wall matt white.
c. mat
La nueva moda en el maquillaje es llevar el pintalabios mate.Mat lipstick is the latest trend in makeup.
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