Mandolin Dictionary

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 errors, or can fill in any of the omissions, please let me know.

English	French	German	Italian	Spanish
Front photo
Mandolin	mandoline	Mandoline	Mandolino	Mandolina
Head	t�te	Kopf	Paletta	Cabeza
Tuner	boutons d�accordage	Stimmwirbel	Meccaniche	Clavija
Nut	sillet de t�te	Sattel	Capo tasto	Cejuela
Fret	frette	Bund	Tasto	Traste
Strings	cordes	Saiten	Corde	Cuerda
Fingerboard	touche	Griffbrett	Tastiera	Diapas�n
Sound hole	rosace	Schallloch	Buca	Boca
Scratch plate	d�coration de rosace ?	Schlagbrett	Scudo	Golpeador
Bridge	chevalet	Steg	Ponticello	Puente
Saddle	sillet du chevalet	Sattel	Traversino	Silleta
Tailpiece	cordier	Saitenhalter / �rmelschoner	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	Chafl�n
Edging	filet de bordure	Einfassung / Rand	Decorazione	Borde
purfling	filet d�coratif	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	t�te	Oberstock	Paletta	Cabeza
Plate	armature de m�canique	Platte	Lamina	Chapa
Neck	manche	Hals	Manico	M�stil
Fingerboard	touche	Griffbrett	Tastiera	Diapas�n
Body	corps	Klangk�rper	Corpo	Caja de resonancia
Side	�clisses	Seite	Laterale
Buttons	boutons d�accordage	Wirbelkn�pfe	Chiavette	Clavijas
Heel	talon	Halsansatz	Tallone	Cuello
Bowlback	Dos rond	Muschel	Cassa armonica
Ribs	membrures	Zargen / Streifen	Doghe	Costillas
Stringing	jointure de membrure	Ziersp�ne	Filetti
Clasp	�clisse de fermeture	Kappe	Braga

Detail Photo
English	French	German	Italian	Spanish

Wound string	corde fil�e	Umwickelte Saite	Corda rivestita	Cuerda entorchada
Plain string	corde pleine	Einfache Saite	Corda liscia	Cuerda plana?
Inlay	marqueterie	Einlage	Ornamento	Incrustaci�n
Edging	filet de bordure	Einfassung / Rand	Decorazione
Purfling	filet d�coratif	Randspan	Filettatura
Compensation	compensation	Knochen / H�henausgleich	Compensazione	Compensaci�n
String slots	crans de sillet	Kerbe	Scalanature	Ranuras para las cuerdas
Saddle	sillet de chevalet	Sattel	Traversino / selletta	Silleta
Bridge	chevalet	Steg / Br�cke	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	�rable	Ahorn	Acero	Arce
Spruce	�pic�a	Fichte	Abete	Picea
Mahogany	acajou	Mahagonie	Mogano	Caoba
Ebony	ebene	Ebenholz	Ebano	�bano
Mother of pearl	nacre	Perlmutt	Madreperla	Madreperla/N�car
Abalone	abalone	Abalone	Abalone	Abal�n/Abul�n

Other terms
Octave	octave	Oktave	Ottava	Octava
Scale length	diapason	Mensur		Longitud de escala
String Tension	tension des cordes	Saitenspannung	Tensione	Tensi�n de la(s) cuerda(s)
String gauge	tirant des cordes	Saitendicke	Diametro delle corde	Calibre/grosor

Gigbag				Funda
Capo				Cejillas