Cartel vs. póster vs. afiche
The Spanish words cartel, póster, and afiche can all translate to poster in English, yet they differ slightly in their connotations and usage depending on the region.
Cartel
A2Cartel generally refers to a printed notice or advertisement intended to be displayed in a public place.
El cartel en la estación de tren anuncia un concierto próximo.
(The poster at the train station announces an upcoming concert.)
Póster
A2Póster is a term borrowed from English, often refers to decorative or collectible items similar to what might be called a wall poster in English.
Compré un póster de mi banda favorita en el concierto.
(I bought a poster of my favorite band at the concert.)
Afiche
B1Afiche is more frequently used in some countries like Argentina. It generally has the same meaning as cartel, but can also refer to theatrical or movie posters.
El cine tiene un afiche grande de la nueva película en la entrada.
(The cinema has a large poster of the new movie at the entrance.)
Summary
While all three words can be used to refer to a poster, cartel usually implies an informative or advertising poster, póster commonly refers to decorative or collectible posters, and afiche is more universally used and can include movie or theatrical posters. The usage may vary depending on regional dialect.