pista
nounCEFR B2
What does “pista” mean in English?
1.hint, clue — a piece of indirect evidence or suggestion that helps solve a problem; also a track or runway
hint, clue — a piece of indirect evidence or suggestion that helps solve a problem; also a track or runway (seguir la pista; pista de aterrizaje)
2.clue, lead
clue, lead (an investigative lead or hint; pista falsa; seguir la pista; also: track or runway)
Example sentences
Los investigadores siguieron durante meses una pista que resultó ser falsa, lo que retrasó el avance del caso.
The investigators followed for months a lead that turned out to be false, which delayed the progress of the case.
Los datos del teléfono móvil proporcionaron a la policía una pista crucial para reconstruir los movimientos del sospechoso.
The mobile phone data gave the police a crucial clue to reconstruct the suspect's movements.
El debate de hoy gira en torno a si las redes sociales ofrecen pistas fiables sobre el comportamiento futuro de los consumidores.
Today's debate revolves around whether social networks offer reliable clues about the future behaviour of consumers.
How to use it
La pista (noun, feminine) means 'clue, lead, track, trail'. At B2 it has three productive senses: (1) an investigative clue or lead (seguir/encontrar/perder la pista), (2) a physical track or runway (la pista de aterrizaje — runway; la pista de baile — dance floor; la pista de tenis), and (3) a hint in a game or puzzle (dar una pista — to give a clue). The investigative sense is the primary mapping for the English canon lemma 'clue'. Core collocations: una pista falsa (a false lead/red herring); la pista del crimen; no hay/encontrar ninguna pista; dar/seguir la pista.
Common mistake
La pista (clue in investigation, or physical track) vs la pizca (a dash/hint — culinary) vs el indicio (a legal/forensic indication, more formal than pista): in investigative journalism and crime reporting, pista is the everyday term; indicio is more technical/legal. 'Red herring' = pista falsa or pista errónea. 'Give me a clue!' (in a game) = ¡Dame una pista!