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carton and Spanish cartón
In English
carton
a cardboard box or container
In Spanish
cartón
material
Spanish "cartón" means: cardboard
Why they get mixed up Spanish "cartón" is the thick, rigid material used to make boxes. English "carton" is a specific container made of that material, like a milk or egg carton. The material itself in English is "cardboard."
If you want to say...
- cartonenvase o cartón
- cardboardcartón (material)
- boxcaja
Examples
A carton of milk.
Un envase de leche.
She bought a carton of eggs.
Compró una caja de huevos.
I bought a carton of orange juice.
Compré una caja de jugo de naranja.
The cigarettes come in a carton of ten packs.
Los cigarros vienen en un cartón de diez cajetillas.
Common mistakes in Spanish
Incorrect: Necesito un cartón para hacer un disfraz.
Correct: Necesito cartón para hacer un disfraz.
Cartón is the material cardboard, not a container.
Incorrect: Compré un cartón de leche.
Correct: Compré una caja de leche.
A milk carton is una caja or un envase de leche.
Phrases you will hear
- a carton of milkun cartón de leche
- a carton of eggsun cartón de huevos
- a juice cartonun envase de jugo
- a cardboard boxuna caja de cartón
- carton recyclingreciclaje de envases
- a carton of cigarettesun cartón de cigarros
In a conversation
- A:
Can you buy a carton of milk?
¿Puedes comprar un cartón de leche?
- B:
Sure. Do you need eggs too?
Claro. ¿Necesitas huevos también?
- A:
Yes, a carton of eggs.
Sí, un cartón de huevos.
- B:
I'll bring a cardboard box for the bags.
Llevaré una caja de cartón para las bolsas.
Test yourself
"A carton of juice" is...
To remember it
Carton = a cardboard box/container. The material itself (Spanish "cartón") = cardboard.
Frequently asked questions
What does Spanish "cartón" mean?
Spanish "cartón" means "cardboard". It looks like the English "carton", which is exactly why it gets confused, but "carton" means "a cardboard box or container".
Does English "carton" mean the same as Spanish "cartón"?
Spanish "cartón" is the thick, rigid material used to make boxes. English "carton" is a specific container made of that material, like a milk or egg carton. The material itself in English is "cardboard."