la leche

[David Sanchez]

[ Moderator's note:
  David Sanchez is responding to a posting by Rick Mc Callister dated 1 Feb
  2001.
  --rma ]

Masculine forms: <madero>, <leqo (len~o)>, <canasto>, <cesto>

are rather than proper masucline forms, despective forms to
indicate insignifcancy (clearly this is the case with <canasto>
and <cesto>. They are very unusual and they are in some sense
vulgar terms than never appear in polite speech.

Feminine forms <madera>, <leqa (len~a)>, <canasta>, <cesta>
are all very usual and neutral.
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>e.g. madero "log, tree trunk"; madera "wood (the material)"
>leqo (len~o) "a piece of firewood"; leqa (len~a) "firewood, wood"

>e.g. charco "mudpuddle"; charca "pool, pond" (there are regional
>differences) canasto "basket, hamper", canasta "large basket; clothes hamper"
>(but there are regional differences) cesto "small basket", cesta "basket"