A blue and yellow striped necktie, neatly tied in a knot, hanging vertically.

corbata

kor-BAH-tah

nounfA1

tie?clothing accessory,necktie?formal wear

📝 In Action

Para la boda, él tuvo que usar traje y corbata.

For the wedding, he had to wear a suit and tie.

Esta corbata de seda es muy elegante.

This silk tie is very elegant.

Olvidé mi corbata en casa, ¿puedo comprar una aquí?

I forgot my tie at home, can I buy one here?

Word Connections

Common Collocations

nudo de corbata – tie knot
corbata de lazo – bow tie (less common than 'pajarita')
llevar corbata – to wear a tie

💡 Grammar Points

Feminine Noun Rule

Since 'corbata' ends in '-a', it is a feminine noun. Always use 'la' or 'una' before it: 'La corbata es azul' (The tie is blue).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Nouns

Mistake: "Using 'corbata' for 'bow tie'."

Correction: While sometimes used, the more common and clearer word for 'bow tie' is 'pajarita' (especially in Spain) or 'corbatín'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Attire vs. Action

To say 'to put on a tie,' you usually use the verb 'ponerse': 'Me pongo la corbata.' (I put on my tie).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: corbata

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'corbata'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

corbatín(bow tie / small tie) - noun

pajarita(bow tie (Spain)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'corbata' ever mean 'bow tie'?

While 'corbata de lazo' literally means 'tie of loop,' simply 'corbata' refers to the long necktie. For a bow tie, it is much clearer to use 'pajarita' (common in Spain) or 'corbatín' (common in Latin America).

Is there a verb form of 'corbata'?

No, 'corbata' is strictly a thing (a noun). If you want to talk about putting on or wearing a tie, you would use verbs like 'ponerse' (to put on) or 'llevar' (to wear).