Wednesday, 15 February 2012

Columna


Today's WOTD is: 'columna' = column

In Spanish, the noun 'columna' is a feminine noun of Latin origin, the main meaning of which is column/ pillar. The noun 'columna' is also often used in Spanish as a shortened form of  'columna vertebral' and meaning spine/ backbone.

Some commonly used expressions containing the word 'columna' are:
  • Artículo de dos* columnas (two-column article - press/ newspapers).
  • Columna blindada (armoured column - military).
  • Columna vertebral (backbone/ spine - anatomy).
  • Marchar en columna de a cuatro* (to march four abreast).
  • Quinta columna (fifth column - [*]).
*NB The number my be changed to suit specific situations.
[*]NB Expression of Spanish origin which is commonly used to refer to minority groups who secretly undermine a larger population group from within.

Examples of the use of the word 'columna' are:
  • Publicaron un artículo a dos columnas (they published a two-column article).
  • Fuerzas enemigas atacaron la columna blindada (enemy forces attacked the armoured column).
  • Tengo problemas de columna (I suffer from back problems).
  • Marcharon en columna de a cuatro (they marched four abreast).
  • Hay quien ve la minoría chií como quinta columna (there are those who see the Shi'ite minority as fifth columnists).

Love-Spanish.com loves the word 'columna' in the YouTube clip: columna 1

For more on the word 'columna', visit: Wordreference.com/es/en/ Columna

*NB 'Click' on the speaker icon next to the word “columna” in the link to hear the word pronounced.

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