Spanish word

tope

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈtope/

Meaning

  • masculine nounlimit

Example

El presupuesto tiene un tope.

The budget has a limit.

Illustration for tope (limit)

More examples

Decidieron poner un tope a los precios para proteger a los consumidores.

They decided to set a cap on prices to protect consumers.

Core concept

A marked maximum on a scale or gauge that must not be exceeded.

Common phrases

  • poner un tope

    set a cap

  • tope de precios

    price cap

Similar words

límite: Boundary marking how far a quantity or action may go.
techo: Ceiling amount or position that cannot rise any further.
máximo: Greatest permitted value under specified conditions.

Definition in Spanish

Objeto, tope físico o cifra que actúa como freno y que no debe ser superado; máximo aceptable o permitido.

Word origin

Derived from the verb topar 'to bump into', with the idea of the point one runs up against becoming the term for a boundary or maximum.

Usage tips

  • False friend with English 'top' is common, since tope denotes a cap or stopping point rather than a peak, and collocates with words like 'salarial', 'de velocidad', or 'máximo'.

Other meanings

  • bumpnoun

Word lists with this word