cinta
/SEEN-tah/
ribbon
Cinta as a decorative ribbon.
📝 In Action
Ató el regalo con una cinta roja y brillante.
A1She tied the present with a bright red ribbon.
Ella se puso una cinta en el pelo.
A1She put a ribbon in her hair.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Alert
Remember that 'cinta' is always a feminine word, so it must use feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., 'la cinta', 'una cinta larga').
⭐ Usage Tips
Fabric vs. Other Material
When talking about thin fabric used for decoration, 'cinta' is the most common and natural choice.
Cinta referring to adhesive tape.
cinta(noun)
tape
?adhesive or measuring
adhesive tape
?like Scotch tape
,measuring tape
?tool for length
📝 In Action
Pega el póster a la pared con un poco de cinta adhesiva.
A2Stick the poster to the wall with a bit of adhesive tape.
Necesitas una cinta métrica para saber cuánto mide la mesa.
B1You need a measuring tape to know how long the table is.
💡 Grammar Points
Specific Tape Types
To specify which kind of tape you mean, you usually add a clarifying adjective, such as 'adhesiva' (adhesive) or 'métrica' (measuring).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Tape Types
Mistake: "¿Dónde está la cinta de medir?"
Correction: Although understandable, the standard term is 'cinta métrica', meaning 'metric tape' or 'measuring tape'.
Cinta meaning magnetic tape, often found in cassettes.
cinta(noun)
tape
?magnetic tape, cassette, VHS
film
?movie or footage
,cassette tape
?audio recording
📝 In Action
Encontré una caja de viejas cintas de vídeo en el sótano.
B1I found a box of old video tapes in the basement.
La película ganó el premio a la mejor cinta extranjera.
B2The movie won the award for best foreign film.
💡 Grammar Points
Movie Synonym
'Cinta' is a slightly more formal or cinematic way to say 'película' (movie), often used by critics or in awards shows.
Cinta referring to an exercise treadmill.
📝 In Action
Correr en la cinta es más fácil para mis rodillas que correr en la calle.
B2Running on the treadmill is easier on my knees than running on the street.
El equipaje va sobre una cinta transportadora.
B2The luggage goes onto a conveyor belt.
💡 Grammar Points
Defining the Machine
To specify a treadmill, Spanish speakers often just say 'la cinta' when in the context of a gym, but use the fuller phrase 'cinta de correr' when needing to be precise.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cinta
Question 1 of 2
Which meaning of 'cinta' is most likely used when you are at the gym?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cinta' the only word for 'movie'?
No, the most common and standard word for a movie is 'película'. 'Cinta' is a more formal synonym, often used in cinema reviews or film festival contexts.
How do I know if 'cinta' means 'ribbon' or 'tape'?
The context usually makes it clear! If you are wrapping a gift or decorating hair, it's a ribbon. If you are fixing something or measuring, it's a type of tape (like 'cinta métrica' or 'cinta adhesiva').