mate

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mate, mate gourd, calabash, head, checkmate
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/ˈmate/
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A shared South American drink whose name also reaches its vessel and several unrelated everyday ideas.
Practice using mate in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • La cáscara dura del mate sirve como vasija.
    The hard shell of the calabash serves as a vessel.
  • Prefiero el mate amargo, sin azúcar.
    I prefer mate bitter, without sugar.
  • Prefiero una pantalla mate porque refleja menos luz.
    I prefer a matte screen because it reflects less light.
  • Buscó un mate forzado.
    He looked for a forced mate.
  • El artesano talló un mate pequeño.
    The craftsperson carved a small mate gourd.

Similar words

jícaro
coco
calabaza
té del Paraguay
calabaza vinatera
matemáticas
porongo
jaque mate
yerba mate
sesera

Meanings

Yerba infusion

noun
drinks
neutral
A stimulating infusion of yerba mate, especially central to social life in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, southern Brazil, and nearby regions.

Examples

  • En Uruguay, mucha gente toma mate cada día.
    In Uruguay, many people drink mate every day.
  • El mate se comparte durante la charla.
    Mate is shared during conversation.
  • Prefiero el mate amargo, sin azúcar.
    I prefer mate bitter, without sugar.
  • Cebó un mate antes de salir.
    She prepared a mate before leaving.
  • El mate caliente nos acompañó toda la tarde.
    Hot mate stayed with us all afternoon.

Similar words

infusión
yerba mate
té del Paraguay

Drinking vessel

noun
drinks
neutral
The small gourd or other container from which the infusion is drunk through a metal straw.

Examples

  • Me regalaron un mate de calabaza.
    They gave me a mate gourd.
  • Lavó el mate después de usarlo.
    He washed the mate cup after using it.
  • Ese mate tiene una virola de plata.
    That mate cup has a silver rim.
  • Llenó el mate con yerba hasta la mitad.
    She filled the mate cup halfway with yerba.
  • El artesano talló un mate pequeño.
    The craftsperson carved a small mate gourd.

Similar words

calabaza
porongo
guampa

Calabash plant

noun
plants
neutral
The calabash plant or its fruit, whose hard shell is used to make containers in parts of South America.

Examples

  • El fruto del mate se seca para hacer recipientes.
    The calabash fruit is dried to make containers.
  • Plantaron mate cerca de la casa.
    They planted calabash near the house.
  • La guía explicó cómo crece el mate.
    The guide explained how the calabash grows.
  • Cortaron un mate maduro de la planta.
    They cut a ripe calabash from the plant.
  • La cáscara dura del mate sirve como vasija.
    The hard shell of the calabash serves as a vessel.

Similar words

calabaza vinatera
porongo
jícaro

Head or mind

noun
anatomy
informal
In informal speech in parts of South America, the head and, by extension, the ability to think or judge.

Examples

  • Usa el mate antes de tomar una decisión.
    Use your head before making a decision.
  • Hoy tengo el mate lleno de preocupaciones.
    Today my head is full of worries.
  • Se golpeó el mate con la puerta.
    He hit his head on the door.
  • No sé qué le pasa por el mate.
    I do not know what goes through his mind.
  • Tiene buen mate para resolver problemas.
    She has a good head for solving problems.

Similar words

cabeza
coco
caletre
sesera

Chess ending

noun
chess
neutral
The position that ends a chess game because the checked king has no legal escape.

Examples

  • Las blancas dieron mate en tres jugadas.
    White delivered checkmate in three moves.
  • Ese movimiento evita el mate.
    That move avoids checkmate.
  • El rey quedó en mate.
    The king was in checkmate.
  • Buscó un mate forzado.
    He looked for a forced mate.
  • La torre completó el mate.
    The rook completed the checkmate.

Similar words

jaque mate

Non-shiny finish

adjective
appearance
neutral
Having a flat surface that reflects little or no light.

Examples

  • Elegimos pintura mate para la pared.
    We chose matte paint for the wall.
  • El papel tiene un acabado mate.
    The paper has a matte finish.
  • Prefiero una pantalla mate porque refleja menos luz.
    I prefer a matte screen because it reflects less light.
  • Compró unos azulejos mates.
    She bought matte tiles.
  • El esmalte queda mate al secarse.
    The glaze becomes matte as it dries.

Similar words

opaco
sin brillo
satinado

Mathematics

noun
education
informal
An informal shortening of matemática or matemáticas used for the school subject.

Examples

  • Mañana tengo examen de mate.
    Tomorrow I have a maths exam.
  • Siempre se le dio bien la mate.
    She was always good at maths.
  • La profesora de mate explicó las fracciones.
    The maths teacher explained fractions.
  • Necesito ayuda con la mate.
    I need help with maths.
  • La mate exige práctica constante.
    Maths requires constant practice.

Similar words

matemática
matemáticas

Etymology

The drink and vessel come through Quechua mati, meaning a small gourd. The chess noun is shortened from jaque mate. The adjective comes from French mat, meaning dull. The school noun shortens matemática or matemáticas.

FAQ

What does mate mean in Spanish?

Mate most often names the yerba infusion or its vessel, but it also has distinct chess, finish, plant, body, and school senses.

Is mate a drink or a cup?

It can be both. Context shows whether mate means the infusion or the vessel used to drink it.

Where is mate commonly drunk?

Mate is especially associated with Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, southern Brazil, and neighboring areas.

What does mate mean in chess?

In chess, mate is the final position in which a checked king has no legal escape.

What does pintura mate mean?

Pintura mate is paint with little or no shine.

Is mate masculine or feminine?

The drink, vessel, plant, head, and chess senses are masculine. The school clipping follows feminine matemática or plural matemáticas.

How is mate pronounced?

Mate is pronounced /ˈmate/, with stress on the first syllable.

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