arcilla
“arcilla” means “clay” in Spanish (soil material used for pottery or building).
clay
Also: shale
📝 In Action
El artista usa arcilla para hacer jarrones.
A2The artist uses clay to make vases.
Me puse una máscara de arcilla en la cara.
B1I put a clay mask on my face.
Rafael Nadal es el rey de la pista de arcilla.
B1Rafael Nadal is the king of the clay court.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: arcilla
Question 1 of 3
Which material would a potter use to make a vase?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'argilla', which came from a Greek word meaning 'white' or 'shining', referring to the light color of some types of clay.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'arcilla' the same as 'barro'?
Not exactly. 'Barro' is a general term for mud or wet dirt. 'Arcilla' is a specific mineral material used for crafts and construction.
Does 'arcilla' change to 'el arcilla' like 'agua'?
No. The rule for 'el' instead of 'la' only applies if the 'A' sound at the start is stressed (like Á-gua). In ar-CI-lla, the stress is on the second syllable, so it stays 'la arcilla'.
What is 'clay court' in Spanish?
In Latin America, it is 'pista de arcilla'. In Spain, it is usually called 'pista de tierra batida'.