falda
/FAHL-dah/
skirt
The most common meaning of falda is a piece of clothing like this skirt.
📝 In Action
Mi hermana compró una falda de mezclilla nueva para el verano.
A1My sister bought a new denim skirt for the summer.
Ella prefiere usar faldas largas en lugar de pantalones.
A2She prefers wearing long skirts instead of pants.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and Articles
Since 'falda' is a feminine word, you must use feminine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'la falda', 'una falda roja').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Gender
Mistake: "El falda (using the masculine article)"
Correction: La falda. Remember that most Spanish nouns ending in -a are feminine.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Style
To describe the type of skirt, just place the adjective after the noun: 'falda plisada' (pleated skirt), 'falda larga' (long skirt).
Falda can also refer to the slope or side of a mountain or hill.
📝 In Action
El pueblo se encuentra en la falda de la montaña, justo donde empieza la vegetación.
B1The town is located on the slope of the mountain, right where the vegetation begins.
Caminamos por la falda de la colina para evitar el pico.
B2We walked along the flank of the hill to avoid the peak.
💡 Grammar Points
Metaphorical Use
This meaning uses the idea of a skirt surrounding the body, applying it to the base of a mountain or hill, which 'surrounds' the peak.
⭐ Usage Tips
Prepositions
You will often see this meaning used with the prepositions 'en' (on) or 'a' (at/to) to describe location: 'Viven en la falda'.
In culinary terms, falda refers to a cut of meat, specifically flank steak.
📝 In Action
Vamos a comprar un kilo de falda para hacer fajitas.
B1We are going to buy a kilo of skirt steak to make fajitas.
La falda de res es un corte muy sabroso si se marina bien.
B2Beef flank is a very tasty cut if it is marinated well.
💡 Grammar Points
Culinary Context
Like the mountain meaning, this is a metaphor based on location—the cut of meat comes from the lower flank or 'skirt' area of the animal.
⭐ Usage Tips
Regional Cuts
Be aware that the precise name for this cut of meat changes often across Spanish-speaking countries. You might hear 'arrachera' in Mexico or 'sobrebarriga' in Colombia.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: falda
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'falda' in its geographical meaning?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'falda' sometimes used for a cut of beef?
This is a descriptive metaphor! The cut of meat, known as flank or skirt steak, comes from the lower side of the animal's belly, which is seen as the 'skirt' or 'flank' area.
Are 'falda' and 'pollera' the same?
They both mean 'skirt.' 'Falda' is standard across the Spanish-speaking world. 'Pollera' is very common in certain Latin American countries (like Argentina) and can sometimes refer specifically to traditional or indigenous skirts.