cintas
/seen-tahs/
ribbons
Cintas meaning ribbons, used for decoration.
📝 In Action
Compramos unas cintas rojas para decorar los regalos de Navidad.
A1We bought some red ribbons to decorate the Christmas gifts.
La gimnasta usa una cinta larga en su rutina.
A2The gymnast uses a long ribbon in her routine.
💡 Grammar Points
Plural Noun Rule
Since 'cinta' ends in a vowel ('a'), you form the plural by adding '-s' to get 'cintas'. Remember that 'cintas' is always feminine, so you use 'las' or 'unas' before it.
Another meaning of cintas is tapes, like a measuring tape.
cintas(noun)
tapes
?adhesive or measuring tools
cassette tapes
?older recording media
,measuring tapes
?tool for length
📝 In Action
Necesito dos cintas métricas para medir la habitación.
A2I need two measuring tapes to measure the room.
Encontré unas cintas de música viejas en el garaje.
B1I found some old music cassette tapes in the garage.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'de'
To specify the type of tape, Spanish often uses 'cintas de...' (tapes of...). For example, 'cintas de video' means 'video tapes'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Modern Media
While 'cintas' refers to physical tapes, modern terms like 'streaming' or 'archivos digitales' (digital files) are used for digital media.
Cintas can also refer to belts, such as a martial arts rank belt.
cintas(noun)
belts
?conveyor belts or martial arts ranks
,treadmills
?short for 'cinta de correr'
tracks
?running track surface
📝 In Action
Las cintas transportadoras llevan el equipaje al avión.
B1The conveyor belts carry the luggage to the plane.
Prefiero correr en las cintas del gimnasio cuando llueve.
B2I prefer running on the treadmills at the gym when it rains.
Obtuvieron sus cintas negras después de muchos años de entrenamiento.
B1They obtained their black belts after many years of training.
💡 Grammar Points
Context is Key
When you hear 'cintas' in a gym, it almost always means 'treadmills' (short for 'cintas de correr'). When packing, it means 'conveyor belts'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cintas
Question 1 of 2
Which meaning of 'cintas' is used in the sentence: 'Las cintas del aeropuerto se detuvieron por un momento.'
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cintas' a common word?
Yes, 'cintas' is very common, especially when talking about ribbons, adhesive tape, or measuring tape. It is an essential A1/A2 level noun.
How do I know if 'cintas' means 'ribbons' or 'treadmills'?
Context is everything! If you are at a gym, it means 'treadmills' (cintas de correr). If you are wrapping a gift or talking about hair accessories, it means 'ribbons'.