colada
“colada” means “laundry” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
laundry
Also: the wash
📝 In Action
Tengo que hacer la colada antes de que anochezca.
A2I have to do the laundry before it gets dark.
La colada está todavía húmeda porque ha llovido.
A2The wash is still damp because it rained.
Puse una colada de ropa blanca esta mañana.
B1I put on a load of white laundry this morning.
gatecrashed
Also: sneaked in
📝 In Action
Ella entró de colada a la fiesta VIP.
B2She gatecrashed the VIP party.
Esa chica no tiene invitación, está colada.
B2That girl doesn't have an invitation; she's a gatecrasher.
Se me ha colada una mosca en la habitación.
C1A fly has sneaked into my room.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: colada
Question 1 of 3
If you say 'Tengo que hacer la colada,' what are you planning to do?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Spanish verb 'colar' (to strain or filter), which comes from the Latin 'colare'. The laundry meaning comes from an old technique of filtering lye water through clothes to bleach them.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'colada' the same as 'lavandería'?
No. 'Colada' is the pile of clothes or the act of washing, while 'lavandería' is the physical place (the laundry room or the shop) where you wash them.
Why does 'colada' mean both laundry and gatecrashing?
Both come from the verb 'colar' (to strain/filter). Laundry used to involve filtering water through clothes, and a gatecrasher 'filters' themselves through a crowd or a door into a place they shouldn't be.
Can I use 'colada' for a drink?
Yes, in some regions, a 'colada' is a thick, strained drink (like the famous Piña Colada, which literally means 'strained pineapple').