Cartas

Cartas is the plural form of carta in Spanish and refers to several related concepts that vary by context. The term is used in everyday language as well as in specialized fields, and its meanings include written correspondence, playing cards, restaurant menus, and maps or charts.

In the context of communication, cartas denotes letters or epistles sent from one person to another. Historically, cartas were the primary means of long-distance correspondence, and the plural is common when referring to multiple written messages or to a body of correspondence.

In gaming, cartas refers to the individual cards within a deck. The deck is commonly called a baraja, but players often speak of las cartas when discussing which cards have been drawn, played, or discarded in a hand or a trick-taking game.

In hospitality, la carta means the menu of a restaurant. The plural cartas can be used to describe the full range of dishes offered, as opposed to a fixed or daily menu (menú del día). Reading or consulting la carta involves choosing among listed options.

In cartography and navigation, carta is a map or chart. Cartas náuticas are nautical charts used for sea travel, while cartografía refers to the broader practice of mapmaking. The plural cartas appears in references to collections of maps or specific chart series.

Other uses include letters of recommendation (cartas de recomendación) and financial instruments such as cartas de crédito. The term thus covers diverse meanings linked by the common idea of a written artifact or a set of items.