Time to brush up your knowledge of the commonest meanings of more nouns that, while similar in form, have very different meanings. This week’s pair are moto and mota.
Starting with the less common mota (feminine), you can listen to its pronunciation here:
Una mota of something such as dust or ash is a little particle of it, or a speck:
Se esmeraba en limpiar hasta la última mota de polvo de la reluciente carrocería.
He took great pains to clean off every last speck of dust from the gleaming bodywork.
Dijo que tenía una mota de carbonilla en el ojo.
He said he had a speck of coal dust in his eye.
Mientras Raúl hablaba, Ana fue quitándole las motas de ceniza que el viento le había echado en el abrigo.
While Raúl was speaking, Ana was removing the specks of ash that the wind had blown onto his coat.
Una mota can also be a spot (forming part of a pattern) or a blemish:
Si te decides por los accesorios en piel, las motas del leopardo vivificarán el conjunto.
If you decide on leather accessories, leopard spots will bring your outfit to life.
la frágil mano cuajada de anillos y de motas ocres
the fragile hand covered with rings and ochre-coloured spots
And here is the pronunciation of moto:
The commonest meaning of moto is motorbike or bike, that roaring, two-wheeled vehicle beloved of commuters, racers and bikers. Even though it ends in -o, this sense of moto is feminine, which is understandable when you realize it’s short for the feminine noun motocicleta:
También me quiero comprar una moto.
I also want to buy myself a motorbike.
Hay que llevar casco cuando se circula en moto.
You need to wear a helmet when you ride a motorbike.
Descubrí que el mejor método para desplazarse era la moto.
I discovered that the best way to get about was by motorbike.
Las motos de montaña no causan daño alguno.
Dirt bikes don’t cause any damage.
To motor through the meanings of some other similar-looking but differently used nouns, join us next week.
