C1 · 50 words
Ceramics in Spanish
Clay, throwing, glaze, firing — a craft the kiln decides.
El bizcocho is the pot after its first firing, hard but still thirsty, and English uses the same borrowed word: « biscuit ware », or « bisque ». Both come from French for twice-cooked, and in the workshop the two languages agree. On the table they part company. A Spanish bizcocho is a soft sponge cake, the thing you cut into slices for a birthday; an English biscuit is hard and dry and snaps. The clay kept the old meaning honestly — fired once, then again — while the cake in each language drifted its own way.
The words
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Phrase (31)
la pasta cerámicathe clay body as mixedPhraseC1
La pasta cerámica lleva chamota.The clay body as mixed has grog in it.
el torno de alfarerothe potter's wheelPhraseC1
El torno de alfarero gira despacio al centrar.The potter's wheel turns slowly while centring.
el levantado de la paredthe pulling up of the wallPhraseC1
El levantado de la pared se hace en tres pasadas.The pulling up of the wall is done in three passes.
el grosor de la paredthe thickness of the wallPhraseC1
El grosor de la pared es uniforme.The thickness of the wall is even all the way up.
el torneado del piethe trimming of the footPhraseC1
El torneado del pie se hace en cuero.The trimming of the foot is done at the leather stage.
la dureza de cuerothe state between soft and dryPhraseC1
La dureza de cuero permite manipular sin deformar.The state between soft and dry lets it be handled without losing shape.
el secado uniformethe drying done evenly all overPhraseC1
El secado uniforme evita grietas.The drying done evenly all over keeps the cracks out.
el modelado a manothe building without a wheelPhraseC1
El modelado a mano no necesita torno.The building without a wheel needs no machine at all.
el churro de arcillathe rolled coil of clayPhraseC1
El churro de arcilla se aplana al unir.The rolled coil of clay is flattened as it is joined.
la placa de arcillathe rolled slab of clayPhraseC1
La placa de arcilla se corta con plantilla.The rolled slab of clay is cut to a paper pattern.
el molde de escayolathe plaster mouldPhraseC1
El molde de escayola absorbe el agua.The plaster mould draws the water out.
el colado en moldethe pouring of liquid clay into a mouldPhraseC1
El colado en molde repite la pieza.The pouring of liquid clay into a mould repeats the piece.
la contracción al secarthe shrinking as it driesPhraseC1
La contracción al secar es del ocho por ciento.The shrinking as it dries is eight per cent.
la cocción de bizcochothe first firingPhraseC1
La cocción de bizcocho llega a novecientos grados.The first firing goes to nine hundred degrees.
el esmalte cerámicothe glazePhraseC1
El esmalte cerámico se aplica por inmersión.The glaze is put on by dipping.
el pincelado del esmaltethe brushing of the glaze onPhraseC1
El pincelado del esmalte deja marca.The brushing of the glaze on leaves a mark.
el óxido colorantethe metal oxide that colours itPhraseC1
El óxido colorante es de cobre.The metal oxide that colours it is copper.
el vidriado transparentethe clear glaze that shows what is under itPhraseC1
El vidriado transparente deja ver el dibujo.The clear glaze that shows what is under it lets the drawing through.
el craquelado del esmaltethe net of fine cracks in the glazePhraseC1
El craquelado del esmalte fue buscado.The net of fine cracks in the glaze was wanted.
la cocción de esmaltethe second firingPhraseC1
La cocción de esmalte sube a mil doscientos.The second firing goes up to twelve hundred.
el horno cerámicothe kilnPhraseC1
El horno cerámico tarda un día en enfriar.The kiln takes a day to cool.
la curva de cocciónthe rate the kiln is taken up atPhraseC1
La curva de cocción sube cien grados por hora.The rate the kiln is taken up at is a hundred degrees an hour.
el cono pirométricothe cone that bends at the right heatPhraseC1
El cono pirométrico se dobló a tiempo.The cone that bends at the right heat bent in time.
la atmósfera oxidantethe firing with air let inPhraseC1
La atmósfera oxidante da un verde claro.The firing with air let in gives a pale green.
la atmósfera reductorathe firing with the air held backPhraseC1
La atmósfera reductora convierte el mismo óxido en rojo.The firing with the air held back turns the same oxide red.
el hornillo de pruebathe small test firingPhraseC1
El hornillo de prueba ahorra piezas grandes.The small test firing saves the big pieces.
la muestra de esmaltethe numbered tile of glazePhraseC1
La muestra de esmalte va numerada.The numbered tile of glaze is filed with the recipe.
la cerámica popularthe pottery of a place and its old shapesPhraseC1
La cerámica popular repite formas antiguas.The pottery of a place and its old shapes repeats them still.
la cuerda secathe line of grease that keeps colours apartPhraseC1
La cuerda seca separa los colores.The line of grease that keeps colours apart holds them in.
el reflejo metálicothe metallic sheen fired on lastPhraseC1
El reflejo metálico exige un tercer fuego.The metallic sheen fired on last needs a third firing.
la pieza únicathe piece that exists oncePhraseC1
La pieza única no se puede repetir.The piece that exists once cannot be made again.
Noun (f) (11)
la arcillathe clayNoun (f)C1
La arcilla se amasa antes de tornear.The clay is kneaded before throwing.
la plasticidadhow far the clay will bend without breakingNoun (f)C1
La plasticidad depende del agua.How far the clay will bend without breaking depends on the water.
la chamotathe ground fired clay added to itNoun (f)C1
La chamota reduce la contracción.The ground fired clay added to it cuts the shrinking.
la grietathe crackNoun (f)C1
La grieta apareció en el asa.The crack showed up at the handle.
el asathe handleNoun (f)C1
El asa se pega con barbotina.The handle is stuck on with thinned clay.
la barbotinathe clay thinned to a paste for joiningNoun (f)C1
La barbotina une las dos piezas.The clay thinned to a paste for joining holds the two parts together.
la inmersiónthe dipping of the pot into itNoun (f)C1
La inmersión dura tres segundos.The dipping of the pot into it lasts three seconds.
la gresificaciónthe closing up of the body at high heatNoun (f)C1
La gresificación cierra la porosidad.The closing up of the body at high heat shuts the pores.
la porcelanathe porcelainNoun (f)C1
La porcelana es translúcida al trasluz.The porcelain lets the light through.
la lozathe ware that stays a little porousNoun (f)C1
La loza sigue siendo porosa.The ware that stays a little porous still drinks water.
la porosidadhow much water the body takes upNoun (f)C1
La porosidad se mide por absorción.How much water the body takes up is how it is measured.
Noun (m) (8)
el amasadothe kneading of the clayNoun (m)C1
El amasado saca las burbujas.The kneading of the clay drives the bubbles out.
el centradothe getting of the lump on centreNoun (m)C1
El centrado es lo primero y lo más difícil.The getting of the lump on centre is the first and the hardest thing.
el bizcochothe pot after that first firingNoun (m)C1
El bizcocho absorbe el esmalte.The pot after that first firing drinks the glaze in.
el engobethe coloured slip laid over the bodyNoun (m)C1
El engobe cubre el color del barro.The coloured slip laid over the body hides the colour of the clay.
el desconchadothe flaking off of the glazeNoun (m)C1
El desconchado viene de una diferencia de dilatación.The flaking off of the glaze comes of a difference in expansion.
el gresthe stonewareNoun (m)C1
El gres aguanta el lavavajillas.The stoneware goes in the dishwasher.
el alfarthe pottery workshopNoun (m)C1
El alfar lleva tres generaciones abierto.The pottery workshop has been open three generations.
el azulejothe wall tileNoun (m)C1
El azulejo lleva un dibujo geométrico.The wall tile carries a geometric pattern.
This list belongs to Art and culture — 29 lists and 1450 words that can also be practised as a whole.
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