We're a Mexican Food Manufactuer and we're planning on a "trivet or
hot pot holder" consumer promo.  This "trivet" is a ceramic tile and
has a cork backing.  What's the most common Spanish translation or
phrase used to describe this "trivet"?

Hi eclaudio!!


The word you are looking for is SALVAMANTELES (not salvamantel).
This word is used in a generic way, if you want a further description
you must add it, in your case it is a ceramic trivet with cork
backing, in spanish:
"Salvamanteles cerámico con base de corcho".


For references see: 
(in brackets my translations)

The Real Academia Española definition for "salvamanteles":
"Pieza de cristal, loza, madera, etc., que se pone en la mesa debajo
de las fuentes, botellas, vasos, etc., para proteger el mantel."
[Piece of crystal, china, wood, etc., that is put on the table under
the sources, bottles, glasses, etc., to protect the tablecloth]
http://www.wordreference.com/es/en/frames.asp?es=salvamanteles

The above definition includes the coasters  and placemats under the
word "salvamanteles", but it is rarely used in these ways. The common
words for the above meanings are posavasos [coaster] and individual
[placemat].

See also the following page at a site developed to learn Spanish Grammar:
"Setting the Table!":
The spanish words "el tenedor, el cuchillo, el salvamanteles" are
translated into english as "fork, knife, trivet" respectively.
http://www.drlemon.net/Grammar/food/Table.html


For examples and to confirm its use, see the following store pages:

ModernHaus:
(cached page)
://www.google.com.ar/search?q=cache:HijPVgm4CD4J:www.modernhaus.info/marca.asp%3Fcurpage%3D13%26marca%3D1+salvamanteles&hl=es&lr=lang_es

Junamo:
http://www.junamo.com/Paginas/Decoracion/decoracion.htm

Ebay:
"SALVAMANTELES 20x20 DE CERÁMICA REFRACTARIA BUGAMBILIA":
[20x20 Refractive ceramic trivet Bugambilia] 
http://cgi.es.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33523&item=5149065371&rd=1&tc=photo

At the bottom of the following page you will see some wicker trivets:
http://www.lluisgrau.com/basketsesp.html


Note:
It is very common in my country (Argentina) to use wooden trivets,
they are simply a little board [tabla] with different shapes, this is
why we call them familiary "tabla" or "tablita". I know that the same
happens in many LatinoAmerican countries.


Search strategy:
My own knowledge of the Spanish language as a native Spanish speaker
who lives in Argentina was my main source.


I hope that this helps you. Feel free to request for a clarification
or further assistance on this if you need it. I will gladly respond
your requests.

Best regards.
livioflores-ga

---

Request for Answer Clarification by eclaudio-ga on 11 Jan 2005 14:03 PST

Dear Livioflores,

Thanks for responding to my question.  The provided sites were very
helpful.  My concern is that "salvamanteles and tabla" are Spanish
terms used most common in Spain and Argentina.  I did a search in two
Mexico search engines with the words listed above and didn't get much
hits.  Do you know what's the common word used in Mexico?

Thanks for your extensive help,
eclaudio

---

Clarification of Answer by livioflores-ga on 11 Jan 2005 20:18 PST

Hi!!

I continue the research as you requested and found the following:

The "formal" way to name the trivets is SALVAMANTELES, this is the
word used in documents and stores, etc.

See the following examples:

From the "Registro de marca de Utensilios y recipientes para el menaje
y la cocina":
"Esta clase comprende esencialmente los pequeños utensilios y aparatos
para...la cocina...Comprende principalmente:
...los salvamanteles y los posavasos"
http://www.marcas.com.mx/Marcas/Clases/Clase_21.htm

From "ANEXO 6 DE LAS REGLAS DE CARACTER GENERAL EN MATERIA DE COMERCIO
EXTERIOR PARA 2003":
"Se clasifican principalmente en estas dos partidas:
A) Entre la vajilla y artículos similares para el servicio de mesa:
los juegos de té y café, los platos, soperas, ensaladeras, fuentes y
bandejas de todas clases, cafeteras, teteras, jarros, azucareros,
tazas, rabaneras, salseras, bandejas para entremeses, cestas, paneras
(para pan, frutas, etc.), mantequeras, aceiteras, saleros, mostaceros,
hueveras, SALVAMANTELES, posacuchillos, cucharas, servilleteros, etc."
From a cached page of the Administración General de Aduanas de Mexico
(Mexican Custom General Administration).
://www.google.com.mx/search?q=cache:bDYpZ4p5w_MJ:www.aduanas.sat.gob.mx/webadunet/guia/Anexo_06_2004.doc+salvamanteles&hl=es

See also:
http://www.seccionamarilla.com.mx/methogar/seccion.asp?it_id=315&sec_id=31

and: 
(Take a look to the name of the category near the bottom). Cached page.
://www.google.com.mx/search?q=cache:R9Z_cpcZnbQJ:mx.catalogcity.com/amos/cc/main/product_categories/act/0-20001-20074-20081/ccsyn/826+salvamanteles+mexico&hl=es
 
-------------------------------------------------------

I have also consulted at mexican chats and found the following answers:
·tablita
·tabla
·protector

The first two are the more common.

--------------------------------------------------------

My conclusion is that in Mexico if you want to buy or sell a trivet
you must use SALVAMANTELES, but when you talk in a frienly environment
you can use TABLA or TABLITA if the other speakers know what are you
talking about, if not you must use TABLA or TABLITA plus a description
of the function:
"TABLA or TABLITA para proteger la mesa" 
or
"TABLA or TABLITA para apoyar la olla o la bandeja caliente"

-----------------------------------------------------------

I hope that this helps you. Again feel free to request for a
clarification if you need it.

Regards.
livioflores-ga

I hope this helps.

trivet
(English)
 
triv·et (trv t) 
s. 
1. (for cooking) - trébedes m. 
2. (for the table) - salvamantel m.  

INFLECTED FORMS:   trivet's - n. 
trivets - n. 
trivets' - n.  

http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dict_en_es/entry?lb=e&p=trivet

Jumped the gun and hit reply sorry. Anyways here is the rest of the
answer that I meant to post.

ceramic tile with cork backing
baldosa cerámica con el forro del corcho
http://world.altavista.com/tr

Ceramic potholder
Potholder de cerámica