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traste

fret (guitar)

noun TRAHS-teh Rare
Arts & Culture Music

Also means

piece of junk; buttocks (colloquial)

Usage Note

Traste in its primary musical sense refers to the metal frets on a guitar or similar stringed instrument. In everyday colloquial Spanish (especially Spain) irse al traste means 'to go down the drain / fall apart' — el plan se fue al traste. In several Latin American countries the word is a common informal term for the buttocks. Learners should be aware of the register shift depending on context and region.

Examples

"Presiona el traste con el dedo índice."

Natural Translation

Press the fret with your index finger.

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