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vaina

pod

noun BAH-ee-nah Rare

Also means

sheath

Usage Note

Vaina literally means a seed pod or the scabbard of a sword. In many Latin American countries — especially Venezuela, Colombia, and the Caribbean — it is a very common colloquial word meaning 'thing, stuff, mess, or annoyance': ¡qué vaina! ('what a drag!'). This informal sense is absent in Spain, where the literal botanical/military meaning is standard. Learners should be aware of this regional split.

Examples

"La vaina del guisante cayó al suelo."

Natural Translation

The pea pod fell to the ground.

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