Mandolin Dictionary (multi-lingual)

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 Multi-lingual Mandolin Dictionary

   As I buy mandolins in France and Germany, as well as England, and research in Italy, I thought it would be useful to develop a dictionary to facilitate understanding descriptions in several languages. Many thanks to the friends who have helped me compile this aide, to Jean Yves, Chema, Andi and Antonio. 

   If you spot any glaring errors, or can fill in any of the omissions, do please let me know. Thanks, Dave.

English

French

German

Italian

Spanish

Front photo

Mandolin

mandoline

Mandoline

Mandolino

 Mandolina

Head

tête

Kopf

Paletta

 Cabeza

Tuner

boutons d’accordage

Stimmwirbel

Meccaniche

 Clavija

Nut

sillet de tête

Sattel

Capo tasto

 Cejuela

Fret

frette

Bund

Tasto

 Traste

Strings

cordes

Saiten

Corde

 Cuerda

Fingerboard

touche

Griffbrett

Tastiera

 Diapasón

Sound hole

rosace

Schallloch

Buca

 Boca

Scratch plate

décoration de rosace ? 

Schlagbrett

Scudo

 Golpeador

Bridge

chevalet

Steg

Ponticello

 Puente

Saddle

sillet du chevalet

Sattel

Traversino

 Silleta

Tailpiece

cordier

Saitenhalter / Ärmelschoner

Attaccacorde

 Cordal

Scale length

diapason 

Mensur

Diapason

 Longitud de escala

Top

Table d’harmonie

Decke

Tavola armonica

 Tapa

Cant

l’angle de la table d’harmonie

Deckenknick

Piegatura

 Chaflán

Edging

filet de bordure

Einfassung / Rand

Decorazione

 Borde

purfling

filet décoratif 

Randspan

Filettatura

 

         

Side photo

English

French

German

Italian

Spanish

         

Cog

rouage des boutons

Zahnrad

Ruota dentata

 

Barrel

axe des boutons

Splint

Vite senza fine

 

Head

tête

Oberstock

Paletta

 Cabeza

Plate

armature de mécanique

Platte

Lamina

 Chapa

Neck

manche

Hals

Manico

 Mástil

Fingerboard

touche 

Griffbrett

Tastiera

 Diapasón

Body

corps

Klangkörper

Corpo

 Caja de resonancia

Side

éclisses

Seite

Laterale

 

Buttons

boutons d’accordage

Wirbelknöpfe

Chiavette

 Clavijas

Heel

talon

Halsansatz

 Tallone

 Cuello

Bowlback

Dos rond

Muschel

Cassa armonica

 

Ribs

membrures

Zargen / Streifen

Doghe

 Costillas

Stringing

jointure de membrure

Zierspäne

Filetti

 

Clasp

éclisse de fermeture

Kappe

Braga

 

 

Detail Photo

English

French

German

Italian

Spanish

         

Wound string

corde filée

Umwickelte Saite

Corda rivestita

 Cuerda entorchada

Plain string

corde pleine

Einfache Saite

Corda liscia

 Cuerda plana?

Inlay

marqueterie

Einlage

Ornamento

 Incrustación

Edging

filet de bordure

Einfassung / Rand

Decorazione

 

Purfling

filet décoratif

Randspan

Filettatura

 

Compensation

compensation

Knochen / Höhenausgleich

Compensazione

 Compensación

String slots

crans de sillet

Kerbe

Scalanature

 Ranuras para las cuerdas

Saddle

sillet de chevalet

Sattel

Traversino / selletta

 Silleta

Bridge

chevalet

Steg / Brücke

Ponticello

 Puente

 

Internal

English

French

German

Italian

Spanish

Heel

talon

Oberstock

Zocchetta

 Cuello

Struts/tone bars

barrage

Deckenleisten

Catene

 Tornapuntas/tirantes

Tail block

tasseau

Unterblock

Zocchetta

 

Linings

tranche ?

ou coupe ?

Reifchen

Perimetro

 Forro

Wood grain

veine du bois

Holzmaserung

 Venatura del legno

 Veta de la madera

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials

English

French

German

Italian

Spanish

         

Rosewood (Indian)

 palissandre

Palisanderholz

Palissandro

 Palo de rosa

Rosewood (Brazilian)        

Maple

 érable

Ahorn

Acero

 Arce

Spruce

 épicéa

Fichte

Abete

 Picea

Mahogany

 acajou

Mahagonie

Mogano

 Caoba

Ebony

ebene

Ebenholz

Ebano

 Èbano

Mother of pearl

nacre

Perlmutt

Madreperla

 Madreperla/Nácar

Abalone

abalone

Abalone

Abalone

 Abalón/Abulón

 

 

 

 

 

Other terms

Octave

octave

Oktave

 Ottava

 Octava

Scale length

diapason

Mensur

 

 Longitud de escala

String Tension

tension des cordes

Saitenspannung

Tensione

 Tensión de la(s) cuerda(s)

String gauge

tirant des cordes

Saitendicke

 Diametro delle corde

 Calibre/grosor

         
Gigbag       Funda
Capo       Cejillas