Mancha

[DailyWord]

This is a discussion thread for the Daily Spanish Word for July 2, 2009

mancha (feminine noun (la)) — stain, spot, blemish. Look up mancha in the dictionary

Esta mancha en tu camisa no se va a poder quitar.
This stain on your shirt is not going to come out.

[irmamar]

También equivale a 'deshonra':

Esto que has hecho será una mancha en tu expediente.

[poli]

Yes you can use stain that way.
example: His robbery conviction will surely stain his reputation as police officer.

[brute]

Originally Posted by poli

Yes you can use stain that way.
example: His robbery conviction will surely stain his reputation as police officer.

Besmirch is a lovely alternative.

[brute]

Originally Posted by DailyWord

This is a discussion thread for the Daily Spanish Word for July 2, 2009

mancha (feminine noun (la)) — stain, spot, blemish. Look up mancha in the dictionary

Esta mancha en tu camisa no se va a poder quitar.
This stain on your shirt is not going to come out.

"El Canal de la Mancha" is the English Channel, which the French call La Manche.
This is also the Frech word for Sleeve.
I always thought that the Channel was so called because it resembles a sleeve or una manga.

I think the Spanish should change the name to El Canal de la Manga, because this beautiful stretch of water is
definitely not "a blot on the landscape", or seascape for that matter!!!

[Ambarina]

Originally Posted by brute

"El Canal de la Mancha" is the English Channel, which the French call La Manche.
This is also the Frech word for Sleeve.
I always thought that the Channel was so called because it resembles a sleeve or una manga.

I think the Spanish should change the name to El Canal de la Manga, because this beautiful stretch of water is
definitely not "a blot on the landscape", or seascape for that matter!!!

But mancha like stain is not necessarily negative. Certain stains can create great effects and stained glass windows are beautiful.

The most probable reason for The Channel being called Canal de la Mancha is that Manche looks like Mancha.

And what about La Mancha in Spain? I don't think it's called that because it's considered a blot on the landscape. Perhaps it refers to the RAE's 3rd definition of the word, i.e. Pedazo de terreno que se distingue de los inmediatos por alguna cualidad.

[brute]

Originally Posted by Ambarina

But mancha like stain is not necessarily negative. Certain stains can create great effects and stained glass windows are beautiful.

The most probable reason for The Channel being called Canal de la Mancha is that Manche looks like Mancha.

And what about La Mancha in Spain? I don't think it's called that because it's considered a blot on the landscape. Perhaps it refers to the RAE's 3rd definition of the word, i.e. Pedazo de terreno que se distingue de los inmediatos por alguna cualidad.

Cierto. Vidrieras de colores son muy preciosas. Pero,hay un problema con la tercera definición. La Canal de la Mancha es un ¡pedazo de mar!

Pienso que las palabras Mancha y Manche son falsos amigos entre francés y español.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by brute

Cierto. Vidrieras de colores son muy preciosas. Pero,hay un problema con la tercera definición. La Canal de la Mancha es un ¡pedazo de mar!

Pienso que las palabras Mancha y Manche son falsos amigos entre francés y español.

I agree with you, surely they were false cognates, but I think it's quite difficult to change the name nowadays (maybe if Gibraltar comes back to Spain we'll change the name of Canal de la Mancha - it's a joke, don't get angry, please )

[brute]

Originally Posted by irmamar

I agree with you, surely they were false cognates, but I think it's quite difficult to change the name nowadays (maybe if Gibraltar comes back to Spain we'll change the name of Canal de la Mancha - it's a joke, don't get angry, please )

No, I'm not worried. You can have Gibraltar. Es miramente un escollo con unos monos.

[CrOtALiTo]

I can use the word Stain in this sentence.


She has stained her reputation in the job, because she has stole money.