Chapa

Chapa
 

This is a discussion thread for the Daily Spanish Word for November 7, 2009

chapa (feminine noun (la)) — lock, door handle, plate, sheet, board, panel. Look up chapa in the dictionary

La llave se atoró en la puerta y tuvimos que desarmar la chapa.
The key got stuck in the door and we had to take the lock apart.

Note that chapa meaning lock is strictly LAm usage.

Wouldn't chapa mean veneer also?

so is there a difference between

---- chapa and chapear -----

Is chapa a derivative a chapear or vice versa?

Sí.

Chapar-Enchapar-Chapear.

Es poner una capa, cubierta y no me cabría duda que también se ocupa para referirse a una cerradura de puerta. (porque ya no me acuerdo)

Hay que enchapar la puerta - Hay que chapear la puerta

Cubrirla con una capa o ponerle una cerradura.

Out of curiosity, with respect to sheet, would 'chapa' be a sheet to cover furniture or a bed e.g. or would it be a sheet of paper? (or both?). :)

Your first option. Chapa can't be a sheet of paper :) (una hoja de papel)

But not a clothing sheet..

Thnx Irma and Chili. :thumbsup:

Hmm ok what kind of sheet then? :) Like a sheet to cover a car or something like this? :confused:

I'd say "una chapa de madera (though here I'd say "panel" for a wall), de aluminio, de acero,..." to cover a door, a wall, a furniture, ... There is also "la chapa del coche" and the people who repaire it are called "chapistas" (Talleres TTT, expecialistas en chapa y pintura) :)

Hmmmm ok ;) muchas gracias irma. :thumbsup: :rose:

So I guess 'chapa' is basically a broad term for a 'cover' of sorts which can be made of many materials (fabric, wood, iron etc) which has the basic purpose of protecting what is underneath, ¿correcto? And apart from that it may also be used as a lock? :)

Is there a difference in use between 'chapa' en 'cerradura' or can they be used interchangeably? :confused:

I never use "chapa" as lock, but "cerradura" :)

Ok! gracias pasea-con-perra. :D :thumbsup: :rose:

No hay de qué, gambita ;)