So which potentially confusable Spanish nouns are we disentangling this week? Let’s see where we get to with tramo (masculine) and trama (feminine).
You can listen to how tramo is pronounced here:
Of the two, tramo (masculine) is the less colourful. Un tramo can refer to a length of something linear such as a road or river. In this case it is most likely to translate as a section or stretch:
este nuevo tramo de la carretera N-121 Pamplona-Behobia
this new section or stretch of the N-121 between Pamplona and Behobia
un tramo de la línea férrea que une la ciudad de México con el puente de Veracruz
a section of the railway linking Mexico City with the Veracruz bridge
La escalada me parecía más difícil que el tramo del primer día.
I thought the climb seemed harder than the first day’s section.
Hay que tener mucho cuidado al cruzar este tramo de río.
You have to be very careful when crossing this section or stretch of the river.
el primer tramo de la novela
the first section of the novel
Un tramo can also be a section of staircase between landings: a flight in other words.
Bajó corriendo los dos tramos de escalera.
She ran down the two flights of stairs.
Referring to a process that happens over time, un tramo can be a phase, a stage or a part:
en el tramo final del partido
in the final stage or part of the match
Este proyecto está dividido en cuatro tramos de ejecución.
This project is to be implemented in four stages.
When it comes to making or receiving payments, un tramo can be a tranche:
La deuda se liquidará en dos tramos.
The debt will be paid off in two tranches.
Moving on to trama (feminine), you can listen to how it’s pronounced here:
In weaving, la trama is the threads that go from side to side (the weft), as opposed to la urdimbre, which is the threads that go lengthways (the warp). La trama can also denote the cloth itself, translating as the weave or the fabric depending on the context.
la trama y la urdimbre del tapiz
the weft and warp of the tapestry
un tejido de algodón con trama abierta
a loosely woven or a loose-weave cotton material
In a novel la trama also has strands woven together, since it is the way the component parts interlink and develop – the plot:
la enredada trama de una novela
the complicated plot of a novel
La trama de la novela gira en torno a unos jóvenes que deciden robar un cuadro.
The plot or storyline of the novel revolves around some young people who decide to steal a picture.
Una trama can also be a secret plan to harm someone or something. In this case it also usually translates as a plot:
Pude reconstruir toda la trama de lo que resultó ser una verdadera conspiración para matar al General.
I was able to reconstruct the whole plot for what turned out to be a genuine conspiracy to kill the General.
DID YOU KNOW?
The verb tramar comes from the same root as trama. Although it can mean to weave, it often translates as to plan, plot or hatch:
Deciden tramar su escape.
They decide to plan their escape.
Se trama una conspiración.
A plot is being hatched.
Detuvieron a otras tres personas sospechosas de tramar un atentado contra la presidenta.
They arrested another three people suspected of plotting an assassination attempt against the president.
Algo muy gordo están tramando para la semana entrante.
They’re planning something big for the coming week.
Algo deben de estar tramando.
They must be up to something.
Join us again next week as we continue unravelling the differences between similar-looking Spanish nouns.
