Oh, Compound It! Online Trivia | Languages

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. If you hate washing dirty dishes by hand, then it is a very good idea to have one of these in your kitchen:

Answer: un lavaplatos

Though a vacuum cleaner (aspiradora) and broom (escoba) may come in handy in the kitchen, you do need a dishwasher (literally: LAVA=it washes, and PLATOS=plates/dishes) if you hate washing the dishes by hand. Of course, a dog (perro) could lick your plates clean; but, please, don't invite me over for dinner!

In some South American countries, the word can be used to mean just "sink", as in kitchen sink.

2. My children love to fit these (wooden) pieces together to make a whole picture. What is the finished product called?

Answer: un rompecabezas

Un rompecabezas is a (jigsaw) puzzle (ROMPE=it breaks, CABEZAS=heads; i.e., brainteaser). Though it can never be a crossword puzzle (crucigrama), it could serve as a toy (juguete) and it is sometimes made from pieces of wood (pedazos de lena).

3. If you prefer to listen to the Beatles on LPs, I really hope you have one of these.

Answer: un tocadiscos

Yes, you need a record player to play an LP: Un tocadiscos (TOCA=it plays, DISCOS=records). I hear that it is more fun to listen to any music from the rock 'n roll era with a joint (cigarillo de marijuana), not that I am proposing it. A stereo player would not have a phonograph, and though you do need a needle (aguja) to play the LP, it has to be attached to the phonograph.

4. Here is one for you daredevils: before you attempt to jump out of an airplane, please test this device to make sure it is working properly first!

Answer: un paracaidas

If you are going to jump out of an airplane (aeroplano), you'd better make sure that your parachute works beforehand (PARA=it stops and CAIDAS= falls). There is no such thing as un paravientos, and unless you are Mary Poppins, an umbrella (paraguas) would not be of much help.

5. The first and last time that I was involved in a 'fender bender' (minor car accident), I was very happy that my car had one of these in the front and rear.

Answer: un parachoques

Since they are made of very durable plastic, sustaining damage only to your bumpers (PARA=it stops and CHOQUES=blows) will not harm the rest of the car. A wheel (rueda) is a good thing to have on your car, as is a windshield (parabrisas), but neither would protect your car in an accident. Paraincidentes is not a real word.

6. I am even more thankful that there are wipers attached to this part of my car when it is 'raining cats and dogs.'

Answer: el parabrisas

Of course, windshield wipers are attached to the WINDSHIELD (PARA=it stops; BRISAS=the breeze). Of the other 3 incorrect choices, only a parasol is an actual word, but that would not do you much good anyway when you are in your car and it is raining.

7. I am going crazy; I want to open a bottle of wine, but I cannot find this handy instrument which would allow me to do so!

Answer: un sacacorchos

Un sacacorchos (SACA=it takes out; CORCHOS=screws) or a corkscrew, is what I would need to open the bottle of wine. While I am sure that a very skilled swordsman (espadachin) could open the bottle, where would I find one in such a pinch? An icebreaker (rompehielos) would not do much good, nor would a dentist (sacamuelas).

8. Speaking of classes, when you have broken your pencil lead in class, you should go use this to resharpen it:

Answer: un sacapuntas

Un sacapuntas (SACA= it brings out; PUNTAS=points), a pencil sharpener, would be the best choice for sharpening your pencil! Un pisapapeles (a paperweight) or una pluma (a pen) would both be useless. I suppose that you could use a knife (un cuchillo) as a last resort, if you were allowed to have a knife in school in the first place.

9. If you were careless enough to have put a pen in the pocket of your silk shirt, you had better run for the nearest one of these to get out the ink stain!

Answer: un quitamanchas

Un quitamanchas (QUITA=it removes; MANCHAS= spots/stains), or a dry cleaner's is where you need to go to get out that ink stain. I would not put a silk shirt with an ink stain in a washing machine (lavarropas), nor would I put it on a jetty (rompeolas). You could put it in a washbowl (un lavamanos) to soak, but you run the risk of shrinking/ruining your shirt!

10. You've picked up the now clean silk shirt and are wearing it again minus the pen, when it begins to rain. No problem, since you've got one of these (hurry up and open it!).

Answer: un paraguas

Un abrigo (an overcoat) may keep you warmer if it is a cold rain, but you are still going to be soaked! Maybe you could run into a dry cleaner's (un quitamanchas) or run into your car and be protected by its windshield (parabrisas), but your best bet would be to open your umbrella (un paraguas)!

Source: Author triviasoprano

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Beatka before going online.
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Oh, Compound It! Trivia Quiz

As in English, there are certain useful compound words (i.e., dishwasher) in Spanish that are a combination of two other words. Identify which word is described. Have fun!

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