platillo

small plate

noun plah-TEE-yoh Rare

Origin: Diminutive of plato (plate), from Latin plattus.

Also means

cymbal

Usage Note

Platillo is the diminutive of plato and has two main senses: a small plate or saucer (especially the saucer under a coffee cup — taza y platillo), and a cymbal in music (platillos in the plural). Platillo volador or platillo volante is the standard Spanish term for a UFO ('flying saucer'). Context almost always makes the sense clear.

Examples

"Puso la taza sobre el platillo."

Natural Translation

She placed the cup on the saucer.

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