bache
nounCEFR B2
What does “bache” mean in English?
1.a hole or dip in the surface of a road, caused by wear or weather
2.a temporary period of difficulty, setback or bad luck
Example sentences
El ayuntamiento prometió reparar los baches de la calle principal antes del invierno.
The town hall promised to repair the potholes on the main street before winter.
Después de perder el trabajo, atravesó un bache económico bastante difícil.
After losing his job, he went through quite a difficult financial rough patch.
How to use it
El bache (noun, masculine) literally means a 'pothole' in a road: el coche cayó en un bache. Figuratively, it means a rough patch or temporary setback in life: pasar por un bache (económico/emocional). Both senses are extremely common in everyday speech.
Common mistake
Pasar por un bache (figurative: a rough patch) does not literally involve a road — it describes a temporary difficulty in life, health, a relationship or finances, and is one of the most common figurative uses of bache.
Topics
Related B2 words
Reference
This entry’s teaching guidance follows Plan Curricular del Instituto Cervantes (Instituto Cervantes), B2 Nociones generales: vida cotidiana y.