Sobre

[DailyWord]

This is a discussion thread for the Daily Spanish Word for June 29, 2009

sobre (masculine noun (el)) — envelope. Look up sobre in the dictionary

Abrí el sobre, y ¡qué sorpresa me llevé!
I opened the envelope and what a surprise!

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

¿Cómo se refiere uno en inglés a los sobres en los que se empacan algunos alimentos deshidratados (sopas, frijoles, salsas...)? ¿"Bag"?

[poli]

vacuum packed/sealed envelope,

[Rusty]

Yes, you can say bag. Even though it may be vacuum-packed/sealed bag, most of us just call it a bag.

From preparation directions:
Pour contents of bag into boiling water ...

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Thank you both!

Once I wasn't understood when I said "envelope", but it was a group of non-native speakers, so I had to ask now.

[Tomisimo]

I would normally call something like that a bag. If I needed to be more specific, I would describe it as vacuum-packed, sealed, or something similar. If you're talking about the smaller sobres of powder to make drinks (tang, kool-aid, etc), I would use "packet".

For example, in the following pictures, I would call that a "packet/bag of (dehydrated) soup" and a "packet of tang".

[poli]

psst! I don't know how all of us gringos forgot the most common term: pouch
All the responses we gave you were right. It's just that pouch is the best term. I'm sorry I wasn't quicker.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Thank you so very much!! I will know all the alternatives for a future occasion. =)

[CrOtALiTo]

Enveloped is used as Sobre de Carta, or Sobre de papel to buy the in the store.

[Tomisimo]

Originally Posted by poli

psst! I don't know how all of us gringos forgot the most common term: pouch
All the responses we gave you were right. It's just that pouch is the best term. I'm sorry I wasn't quicker.

Yes, "pouch" is good to. If I say things out loud, it helps me think of the best/most common way of saying things.... but the people around me will think I'm a bit off my rocker if I'm staring at the computer screen muttering "packet of tang, bag of tang, envelope of tang, pouch of tang".

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Originally Posted by Tomisimo

Yes, "pouch" is good to. If I say things out loud, it helps me think of the best/most common way of saying things.... but the people around me will think I'm a bit off my rocker if I'm staring at the computer screen muttering "packet of tang, bag of tang, envelope of tang, pouch of tang".

Sounds so familiar...

[Ronnmacc80]

For ramen noodles, for example, we call a "pack" of ramen noodles. For those tiny servings of ketchup a restaurant gives you in the drive-thru, we call them "packages" of ketchup. For a food item that is wrapped in a more complicated manner, we use "package" (with the ketchup example being the exeption).

[Sancho Panther]

A small cardboard box is a 'carton', but with the emphasis strongly on the first syllable, unlike its Spanish equivalent.

[Johndiv23]

I thought sobre was envelope in English. Now i know its a small container like a bag pouch etc.

[Sancho Panther]

Hmm, 'un sobre' is an envelope, a small bag or pouch sounds more like 'un paquete' to me!

[Luna Azul]

A "sobre" is usually an "envelope" but it can also be a "packet", as in those little "sugar packets" they use in the cafeterias. Those are "sobres de azúcar".

I wouldn't translate "bag" and "pouch" as "paquete".
"Paquete" is "package" or "parcel" depending upon which size of the Atlantic you're at, or "pack" as in "a pack of cigarettes" - (un paquete de cigarrillos)

"Bags" and "pouches" are "bolsas". When they're small we just say "bolsitas".

I believe a "pouch", depending on its size and also the usage, can be a "talego", at least in my country.

[caliber1]

I also thought "sobre" can mean "super". No?

[Luna Azul]

Originally Posted by caliber1

I also thought "sobre" can mean "super". No?

Yes, the prefix sobre- means super- in many cases:

Sobrecargo - sobreimponer.. etc