Breakdown of Guardo mi dinero en el bolsillo de mi chaqueta.
yo
I
en
in
mi
my
de
of
el dinero
the money
guardar
to keep
la chaqueta
the jacket
el bolsillo
the pocket
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Questions & Answers about Guardo mi dinero en el bolsillo de mi chaqueta.
Why is the verb guardar used here instead of poner or meter?
While poner and meter simply mean “to put” or “to insert,” guardar carries the sense of “storing,” “keeping safe,” or “putting away for later.” In the context of money, guardar implies you’re securing or saving your cash in a safe spot.
Why isn’t there an article before mi dinero? Why not el dinero?
Possessive adjectives like mi replace the need for an article in Spanish. Saying mi dinero directly means “my money.” If you said el dinero, you’d be speaking about “the money” in general, not specifically yours.
Why is there a definite article before bolsillo (i.e. el bolsillo)? Could it be omitted?
The article el specifies a particular pocket—the one on your jacket. Omitting it (en bolsillo) would sound ungrammatical. In Spanish, we normally include the definite article when referring to a specific body part or garment feature.
Why is the phrase structured as el bolsillo de mi chaqueta instead of something like mi chaqueta bolsillo?
Spanish expresses possession with de. So “the pocket of my jacket” becomes el bolsillo de mi chaqueta. Directly stacking nouns (mi chaqueta bolsillo) doesn’t work in Spanish the way it sometimes does in English.
Could I say dentro de instead of en?
Yes. Dentro de means “inside of” and would be perfectly understandable: Guardo mi dinero dentro de el bolsillo de mi chaqueta. However, Spanish speakers often just use en for “in.” If you do use dentro de, remember it contracts with the article: dentro del bolsillo.
Why is bolsillo singular? Could I say bolsillos?
You use singular bolsillo because you’re referring to one specific pocket. If you wanted to say you store your money in multiple pockets, you’d switch to plural: Guardo mi dinero en los bolsillos de mi chaqueta.
Is guardar being used reflexively here? Could I say me guardo mi dinero?
Here guardar is simply transitive—you need a direct object (mi dinero) but no reflexive pronoun. If you said me guardo mi dinero, it would mean “I keep the money for myself” (adding a nuance of personal benefit) and is less common in this context.
What’s the difference between chaqueta, saco, and chamarra in Latin America?
- Chaqueta is the standard term for “jacket” in most Spanish-speaking countries.
- Saco often refers to a blazer or sport coat, especially in Mexico and parts of Central America.
- Chamarra is common in Mexico for any casual jacket or coat. Usage varies regionally, but chaqueta will always be understood.
Could I drop bolsillo and just say Guardo mi dinero en mi chaqueta?
Yes—you could say Guardo mi dinero en mi chaqueta, and it’s still correct. But it’s less precise: you’re omitting exactly where in the jacket (inner pocket, side pocket, etc.). Including bolsillo clarifies that detail.