Spanish Conversation · Level 81
60 words
Spanish word
bache
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈbatʃe/
Meaning
- masculine nounpothole
Example
Ayer mi coche se rompió por un bache en la carretera.
Yesterday my car was damaged by a pothole on the road.
More examples
Después de varias semanas con ventas bajas, la tienda consiguió salir del bache.
After several weeks of low sales, the store managed to get out of a slump.
Core concept
Sunken patch in a road that makes a car jolt.
Common phrases
sufrir un bache
go through a slump
salir del bache
get out of a slump
entrar en un bache
fall into a slump
Similar words
hueco: Hollow cavity in a surface or object, empty inside.
agujero: Hole opening through an object or the ground.
hoyo: Hole or depression formed in the ground.
socavón: Large ground collapse creating a deep, dangerous sinkhole.
Definition in Spanish
Agujero o hundimiento en una carretera que puede dañar o provocar un golpe al pasar; por extensión, un período corto de problemas personales o económicos.
Word origin
Origin uncertain; the word first named a hollow or depression in a road and later shifted by metaphor to a brief personal or economic setback.
Usage tips
- In everyday speech 'pasar por un bache' commonly means 'go through a rough patch', and context indicates whether the speaker means a literal hole or a temporary setback.