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ceja

SEH-hah/ˈθexa/

“ceja” means “eyebrow” in Spanish (the line of hair above your eye).

eyebrow

Also: rim, bridge
NounfA1
Mexico
A close-up illustration of a single human eye with a thick, well-defined eyebrow arched above it.

📝 In Action

Ella tiene las cejas muy oscuras.

A1

She has very dark eyebrows.

Me duele la cicatriz que tengo sobre la ceja.

A2

The scar I have above my eyebrow hurts.

Él levantó una ceja con sorpresa cuando escuchó el precio.

B1

He raised an eyebrow in surprise when he heard the price.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ceño (brow/frown)

Common Collocations

  • depilarse las cejas – to pluck/shape one's eyebrows
  • cejas pobladas – thick/bushy eyebrows
  • fruncir la ceja – to knit one's brow (frown)

Idioms & Expressions

  • Entre ceja y ceja – To be obsessed with something or to strongly dislike someone
  • Estar hasta las cejas – To be deeply involved or overwhelmed by something (like work or debt)
  • Quemarse las cejas – To study very hard or work late into the night

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "ceja" in Spanish:

bridge→eyebrow→rim→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: ceja

Question 1 of 3

If someone is 'hasta las cejas' with work, how do they feel?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
cejijunto(unibrow (person with connected eyebrows)) — Adjective
cejilla(capo (guitar tool) or small eyebrow) — Noun
cejudo(thick-browed) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'cilium', which originally meant 'eyelid' or 'eyelash'. Over hundreds of years, the meaning shifted in Spanish to refer to the arch of hair above the eye.

First recorded: 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: sobrancelhaEnglish: cilia (tiny hairs)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'ceja' different from 'pestaña'?

Yes! 'Ceja' is the eyebrow (the hair on your forehead). 'Pestaña' is the eyelash (the hairs attached to your eyelids).

How do you say 'to pluck eyebrows'?

The most common way is 'depilarse las cejas' or 'sacarse la ceja'.

Is 'ceja' used for animals?

Technically yes, if the animal has a distinct marking or colored patch above the eye that resembles a human eyebrow.