A high quality illustration of a single, unlit cigarette, clearly showing the white paper wrapper and the brown tobacco packed inside.

cigarrillo

see-gah-REE-yoh

NounmA1

cigarette?A small roll of tobacco wrapped in paper for smoking.

Also:small cigar?The literal meaning of the diminutive form, less common in modern usage.

📝 In Action

Necesito salir a fumar un cigarrillo.

I need to go out and smoke a cigarette.

El paquete de cigarrillos cuesta diez euros.

The pack of cigarettes costs ten euros.

Por favor, ¿me das fuego para encender mi cigarrillo?

Please, can you give me a light for my cigarette?

Word Connections

Synonyms

pitillo (cigarette (Spain))
pucho (cigarette (Southern Cone))
cigarro (cigarette (often used interchangeably in parts of Latin America))

Common Collocations

paquete de cigarrillos – pack of cigarettes
encender un cigarrillo – to light a cigarette

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun

Even though it ends in '-o', this word is masculine, so you use 'el' or 'un' before it (e.g., 'un cigarrillo').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Gender

Mistake: "La cigarrillo."

Correction: El cigarrillo. Remember, most nouns ending in '-o' are masculine.

⭐ Usage Tips

The Diminutive Hint

The ending '-illo' is a diminutive, meaning 'small.' 'Cigarrillo' literally means 'small cigar,' which is why it refers to a standard cigarette.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: cigarrillo

Question 1 of 1

Which Spanish word is the most common synonym for 'cigarrillo' in Spain?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

cigarro(cigar) - noun

fumar(to smoke) - verb

cenicero(ashtray) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'cigarro' and 'cigarrillo'?

In most Spanish-speaking regions, 'cigarro' refers to a large cigar, while 'cigarrillo' refers to a standard, manufactured cigarette. However, watch out for Mexico and parts of Central America where 'cigarro' is often used to mean 'cigarette' instead.