Surface

[poli]

The table has a smooth surface.

The ocean has a rough surface today.

On the surface she appears to be a calm person

The earth's surface is largley made up of water

I don't think superficie is always the best word for surface in Spanish. Can
someone clarify this for me?

[chileno]

Originally Posted by poli

The table has a smooth surface.

The ocean has a rough surface today.

On the surface she appears to be a calm person

The earth's surface is largley made up of water

I don't think superficie is always the best word for surface in Spanish. Can
someone clarify this for me?

It fits perfectly in Spanish.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Originally Posted by poli

I don't think superficie is always the best word for surface in Spanish. Can someone clarify this for me?

I agree with Hernán...


The table has a smooth surface.
La superficie de la mesa es lisa.

The ocean has a rough surface today.
La superficie del mar está desapacible.
(Personally, in this case, I'd prefer "el mar está picado".)

On the surface she appears to be a calm person.
En la superficie, parece ser una persona calmada.
(I'd rather use "aparenta ser una persona calmada")

The earth's surface is largley made up of water.
La superficie fe la tierra está mayormente compuesta de agua.

[poli]

Thanks both of you. I never felt comfortable using the word because I thought it sounded like English translated

[chileno]

Originally Posted by poli

Thanks both of you. I never felt comfortable using the word because I thought it sounded like English translated

Have thought that maybe it's the other way around?

You never know...

[xchic]

Originally Posted by chileno

Have thought that maybe it's the other way around?

You never know...

Of course that's just as likely, if not more so

I know what poli means though - superficie sounds like superficial which usually has a different meaning in English.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by xchic

Of course that's just as likely, if not more so

I know what poli means though - superficie sounds like superficial which usually has a different meaning in English.

Which meaning? I think that more or less the English word "superficial" can be translated into Spanish as "superficial".

She has a superficial beauty.
Su belleza es superficial.

He's a very superficial person, you can't talk about anything with him, he's only interested in look
Es una persona muy superficial, no puedes hablar con ella de nada, sólo está interesada en su físico.

I have a superficial knowledge about this topic.
Tengo un conocimiento superficial de este tema.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

He's a very superficial person, you can't talk about anything with him, he's only interested in look

I have a superficial knowledge about this topic.

he's only interested in looks

I have a superficial knowledge of this topic.
My knowledge of this topic is very superficial.

[xchic]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Which meaning? I think that more or less the English word "superficial" can be translated into Spanish as "superficial".

She has a superficial beauty.
Su belleza es superficial.

He's a very superficial person, you can't talk about anything with him, he's only interested in look
Es una persona muy superficial, no puedes hablar con ella de nada, sólo está interesada en su físico.

I have a superficial knowledge about this topic.
Tengo un conocimiento superficial de este tema.

Yes, but I tend to more usually think of it as meaning trite, trivial, insignificant - describing a person as in your second example - rather than ever describing the surface of a thing.

Maybe it's just me

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by xchic

Yes, but I tend to more usually think of it as meaning trite, trivial, insignificant - describing a person as in your second example - rather than ever describing the surface of a thing.

Maybe it's just me

I think that is really what is meant in the second example as well. It isn't her surface which is being described, but a beauty which is fleeting or - er - superficial. I can't think of a sensible example of superficial just meaning 'pertaining to a surface'

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Perikles

I think that is really what is meant in the second example as well. It isn't her surface which is being described, but a beauty which is fleeting or - er - superficial. I can't think of a sensible example of superficial just meaning 'pertaining to a surface'

The scratch was only superficial.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by chileno

The scratch was only superficial.

Correct, but this usually means it doesn't matter, it is insignificant.

Edit: I've just thought one one. The superficial veins in the hand are visible. This is the literal meaning of superficial, i.e. on or pertaining to the surface, compared with veins deeper under the skin. Much more often is the transfer of the meaning to something trivial.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Perikles

Correct, but this usually means it doesn't matter, it is insignificant.

Nonetheless, it still refers to the surface.

Originally Posted by Perikles

Edit: I've just thought one one. The superficial veins in the hand are visible. This is the literal meaning of superficial, i.e. on or pertaining to the surface, compared with veins deeper under the skin. Much more often is the transfer of the meaning to something trivial.

Like with my example?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by chileno

Nonetheless, it still refers to the surface. ....Like with my example?

*sigh* yes.

[irmamar]

How would you say "una capa superficial de hielo (o de polvo)?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

How would you say "una capa superficial de hielo (o de polvo)?

A thin layer of ice / dust

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Perikles

A thin layer of ice / dust

And a surface layer?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

And a surface layer?

Yes, that's OK as well.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Perikles

Yes, that's OK as well.

OK. Thanks.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@xchic: I think one can say in Spanish about a person, that he/she is superficial when they just care about trivial subjects... (I don't sense any English influence in there)

María es muy superficial. Sólo habla de revistas de moda.
María is a superficial person. She only talks about fashion magazines.