Taza vs. tasa
The Spanish words taza and tasa are homophones in many parts of the Spanish-speaking world, meaning they sound the same but are spelled differently and have completely distinct meanings. The key difference lies in what they refer to: one is a physical object and the other is an abstract concept.
Taza
A1Taza refers to a cup or a mug. It is a physical container, usually with a handle, used for drinking liquids, especially hot ones like coffee or tea. It can also be used as a unit of measurement in cooking.
Cada mañana me preparo una taza de té verde.
(Every morning I make myself a cup of green tea.)
La receta pide dos tazas de harina y una de azúcar.
(The recipe calls for two cups of flour and one of sugar.)
Con cuidado, no vayas a romper mi taza favorita.
(Be careful, don't break my favorite mug.)
Compró un bonito juego de tazas y platos para su nueva casa.
(She bought a beautiful set of cups and saucers for her new house.)
Me sirvió el chocolate caliente en una taza muy grande.
(He served me the hot chocolate in a very large mug.)
Tasa
B1Tasa refers to a rate, a fee, or a tax. It is a measure, proportion, or charge, often used in financial, economic, or statistical contexts.
El banco central decidió subir la tasa de interés.
(The central bank decided to raise the interest rate.)
Para renovar el pasaporte, hay que pagar una tasa.
(To renew your passport, you have to pay a fee.)
La tasa de desempleo en el país ha disminuido.
(The unemployment rate in the country has decreased.)
¿Cuál es la tasa de cambio actual entre el euro y el dólar?
(What is the current exchange rate between the euro and the dollar?)
La tasa de alfabetización es un indicador importante del desarrollo.
(The literacy rate is an important indicator of development.)
Summary
In summary, the fundamental difference is that taza (with a z) is a cup you drink from, a tangible object. On the other hand, tasa (with an s) is an intangible concept like a rate (interest rate, birth rate) or a fee/tax (administrative fee, government tax).