A fachada is either the physical front of a building or a metaphorical mask used to hide one's true feelings.
Mot en 30 secondes
- The primary exterior front wall of a building.
- A deceptive outward appearance or social mask.
- Often used to describe fake behavior or hidden intentions.
Visión general
La palabra 'fachada' proviene del italiano 'facciata' y designa principalmente el paramento exterior de una construcción. Es un término fundamental en arquitectura, pero su uso se ha extendido al lenguaje cotidiano para referirse a la imagen pública o la máscara social que alguien proyecta.
Patrones de uso
Se emplea frecuentemente con verbos de estado como 'tener' o 'mantener', y con verbos de acción como 'derribar' o 'remodelar' en contextos físicos. En contextos abstractos, suele ir acompañada de verbos que implican ocultamiento o engaño, como 'mantener una fachada' o 'caerse la fachada'.
Contextos comunes
En arquitectura, se usa para hablar de la estética de una casa o edificio histórico. En psicología o relaciones sociales, se usa para describir cuando alguien finge ser algo que no es, por ejemplo: 'Mantenía una fachada de felicidad a pesar de sus problemas'.
Comparación de palabras
A diferencia de 'frente' (que es más genérico), 'fachada' implica una estructura diseñada y decorativa. A diferencia de 'apariencia', que es puramente abstracta, 'fachada' conserva una connotación de estructura o construcción, lo que la hace más potente al describir el engaño, sugiriendo que hay un interior oculto detrás de una superficie cuidadosamente preparada.
Exemples
La fachada de la catedral es impresionante.
everydayThe cathedral's facade is impressive.
Él mantiene una fachada de hombre duro.
formalHe maintains a facade of a tough man.
¡Se le cayó la fachada a ese tipo!
informalThat guy's act fell apart!
La arquitectura barroca destaca por la complejidad de su fachada.
academicBaroque architecture stands out for the complexity of its facade.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
fachada continua
continuous facade
caerse la fachada
to have one's facade crumble
fachada de cristal
glass facade
Souvent confondu avec
Frente is a general word for 'front' or 'forehead'. Fachada is specifically for the exterior wall of a building.
Apariencia is a general term for how something looks. Fachada implies a deliberate, often deceptive, front.
Modèles grammaticaux
How to Use It
Notes d'usage
The word is neutral in architectural contexts but carries a negative connotation when used metaphorically to imply deception. It is a formal term in construction but frequently used in daily conversation. Always ensure the context clarifies whether you mean the physical building or the person's behavior.
Erreurs courantes
Learners often use it to mean 'front' in any situation, such as the front of a book or the front of a line. It is strictly limited to buildings or metaphorical masks. It is also sometimes incorrectly used as an adjective.
Tips
Use for both buildings and personalities
Remember that this word is versatile. Use it for architecture, but also for social situations where someone is being fake.
Do not confuse with front
Don't use 'fachada' for the 'front' of a line or a shirt. It is strictly for buildings or metaphorical appearances.
Historical buildings in Spain
In Spain, many cities have protected facades. It is common to hear about laws preserving the 'fachada' of historical buildings.
Origine du mot
Derived from the Italian 'facciata', which comes from 'faccia' (face). It entered Spanish via the architectural influence of the Renaissance.
Contexte culturel
In many Spanish-speaking countries, preserving the facade of old buildings is a major part of urban heritage law. It reflects the value placed on historical identity in city planning.
Astuce mémo
Think of a 'face' (fac-) on a building. It's the 'face' the building shows to the world, just like a person's fake 'face' hides their true self.
Questions fréquentes
3 questionsSí, se usa en sentido figurado para referirse a la apariencia o actitud que alguien muestra para ocultar su verdadera personalidad. Es común decir que alguien 'mantiene una fachada' para no mostrar sus debilidades.
No exactamente. 'Frente' es un término más general y puede referirse a cualquier parte delantera, mientras que 'fachada' se refiere específicamente a la cara arquitectónica de un edificio.
Es una expresión idiomática que significa que alguien ya no puede seguir fingiendo o manteniendo su engaño. Se usa cuando la verdadera personalidad de alguien queda al descubierto.
Teste-toi
Completa la frase con la palabra correcta.
El edificio histórico tiene una ___ muy bien conservada.
La fachada es la parte frontal exterior del edificio.
🎉 Score : /1
Summary
A fachada is either the physical front of a building or a metaphorical mask used to hide one's true feelings.
- The primary exterior front wall of a building.
- A deceptive outward appearance or social mask.
- Often used to describe fake behavior or hidden intentions.
Use for both buildings and personalities
Remember that this word is versatile. Use it for architecture, but also for social situations where someone is being fake.
Do not confuse with front
Don't use 'fachada' for the 'front' of a line or a shirt. It is strictly for buildings or metaphorical appearances.
Historical buildings in Spain
In Spain, many cities have protected facades. It is common to hear about laws preserving the 'fachada' of historical buildings.
Exemples
4 sur 4La fachada de la catedral es impresionante.
The cathedral's facade is impressive.
Él mantiene una fachada de hombre duro.
He maintains a facade of a tough man.
¡Se le cayó la fachada a ese tipo!
That guy's act fell apart!
La arquitectura barroca destaca por la complejidad de su fachada.
Baroque architecture stands out for the complexity of its facade.
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