Inklingo
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encaje

en-KAH-hehenˈkaxe

lace

Also: embroidery
NounmB1
A close-up of a white delicate lace fabric with intricate floral patterns.

📝 In Action

El vestido de novia tiene mucho encaje.

A2

The wedding dress has a lot of lace.

Mi abuela hace encaje de bolillos.

B1

My grandmother makes bobbin lace.

Compré unas cortinas con un borde de encaje precioso.

B2

I bought some curtains with a beautiful lace border.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • blonda (silk lace)
  • randa (lace/trim)

Common Collocations

  • encaje de bolillos – bobbin lace
  • encaje de aguja – needle lace

Idioms & Expressions

  • hacer encaje de bolillos – to do something very difficult or intricate with limited resources

fitting, socket

Also: groove
NounmB2
Two wooden puzzle pieces being joined together perfectly.

📝 In Action

El encaje de las piezas del puzzle es perfecto.

B1

The fit of the puzzle pieces is perfect.

Buscamos el encaje social de los nuevos residentes.

C1

We are looking for the social integration of the new residents.

Esta pieza no tiene un buen encaje en el motor.

B2

This part doesn't have a good fit in the engine.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ajuste (adjustment/fit)
  • conexión (connection)

Antonyms

  • desajuste (mismatch)

Common Collocations

  • encaje perfecto – perfect fit
  • punto de encaje – connection point

fits / might fit

VerbB1regular ar
A small wooden peg being placed into a matching round hole.
gerundencajando
past Participleencajado
infinitiveencajar

📝 In Action

Espero que la llave encaje en la cerradura.

B1

I hope the key fits in the lock.

Dudo que ese sofá encaje en mi salón.

B1

I doubt that sofa will fit in my living room.

Busca una pieza que encaje aquí.

A2

Look for a piece that fits here.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • cuadrar (to tally/fit)

Antonyms

  • desentonar (to clash)

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yoencajara
túencajaras
él/ella/ustedencajara
nosotrosencajáramos
vosotrosencajarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesencajaran

Present Subjunctive

yoencaje
túencajes
él/ella/ustedencaje
nosotrosencajemos
vosotrosencajéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesencajen

Indicative

Preterite

yoencajé
túencajaste
él/ella/ustedencajó
nosotrosencajamos
vosotrosencajasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesencajaron

Imperfect

yoencajaba
túencajabas
él/ella/ustedencajaba
nosotrosencajábamos
vosotrosencajabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesencajaban

Present

yoencajo
túencajas
él/ella/ustedencaja
nosotrosencajamos
vosotrosencajáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesencajan
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "encaje" in Spanish:

embroidery→fitting→groove→lace→socket→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: encaje

Question 1 of 3

Which meaning of 'encaje' refers to a delicate fabric?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
encajar(to fit/insert) — Verb
caja(box) — Noun
encajonado(boxed in) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Derived from the verb 'encajar' (to fit into a box), which comes from 'caja' (box), rooted in the Latin 'capsa'.

First recorded: 16th century (related to textiles)

Cognates (Related words)

English: encase

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'encaje' only mean fabric?

No, it can also mean the way things fit together (like machinery or puzzle pieces) and it's also a form of the verb 'encajar'.

What does 'hacer encaje de bolillos' mean?

It is an idiom used when someone has to do something incredibly complicated or 'work magic' with very little to solve a problem.

Is 'encaje' used for social situations?

Yes! You can talk about the 'encaje' of a person in a new group to describe how well they fit in.