petaca

[peˈt̪aka]

/[peˈt̪aka]/ noun

The verdict

“petaca” is an uncommon Spanish word, ranked #64,086 in Spanish word frequency and used as a noun.

#64,086
frequency rank, Spanish
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Cesta o caja diseñada para cargarse a lomos de un animal o para viajar.

Key facts for petaca
PropertyValue
Headwordpetaca
LanguageSpanish
Part of speechNoun
IPA[peˈt̪aka]
Letters6
Frequency rank#64,086
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “petaca” sits in Spanish frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). petaca lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The Spanish entry for petaca is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [peˈt̪aka]. Corpus data places it at rank #64,086 in overall Spanish word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 8 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Zero misspellings are on record for petaca in our index, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Our source data has no etymology on file for this entry, so its spelling is best explained by sound-to-letter mapping rather than etymology. The correct Spanish form is petaca, spelled P-E-T-A-C-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    Cesta o caja diseñada para cargarse a lomos de un animal o para viajar.
  2. 2
    Pequeño estuche para tabaco, cosméticos o dinero.
  3. 3
    Botella pequeña y plana para llevar licor.
  4. 4
    Caja o recipiente, dotado de asas u otros medios de sujeción, empleada para transportar ropa y otros enseres durante un viaje.
  5. 5
    Espalda humana, especialmente la que está permanentemente curvada.
  6. 6
    Trasero humano, y en particular la cadera y los glúteos.
  7. 7
    Cesta o caja rústica usada en el pasado para transportar ropa en distintas etapas del lavado, formada a partir del peciolo envainador (yagua) de la Palma Real (Roystonea regia).
  8. 8
    Caja pequeña que se engancha en la ropa, que retransmite inalámbricamente la señal de audio recibida desde un micrófono.

Synonyms

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 Spanish corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "petaca"?
"petaca" is spelled P-E-T-A-C-A. The IPA pronunciation is [peˈt̪aka].
What does "petaca" mean?
As a noun, "petaca" means: Cesta o caja diseñada para cargarse a lomos de un animal o para viajar.
How do you pronounce "petaca"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "petaca" is [peˈt̪aka]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "petaca" come from?
"petaca" is a Spanish word. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for this and other words across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German on PlainSpell.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “petaca”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct Spanish spelling is P-E-T-A-C-A - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [peˈt̪aka] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more Spanish words and confusable pairs in the same reference. Spanish words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list