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historieta

ees-toh-ree-eh-tah/istoˈɾjeta/

“historieta” means “comic strip” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

comic strip

Also: comic book, cartoon
NounfA2
SpainMexico/Chile
A row of three colorful panels showing a small cat chasing a red ball.

📝 In Action

Leí una historieta muy divertida en el periódico hoy.

A2

I read a very funny comic strip in the newspaper today.

De niño, mi habitación estaba llena de historietas de superhéroes.

B1

As a child, my room was full of superhero comic books.

Mafalda es la historieta más famosa de Argentina.

B2

Mafalda is the most famous comic strip from Argentina.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • cómic (comic)
  • tebeo (comic book (mainly Spain))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • dibujar una historieta – to draw a comic strip
  • personaje de historieta – comic strip character
  • colección de historietas – comic book collection

tale

Also: yarn, excuse
NounfB2informal
An elderly person sitting in a large chair telling a story to a group of listening children.

📝 In Action

No me vengas con historietas; dime la verdad.

B2

Don't come to me with these tales; tell me the truth.

El abuelo siempre cuenta la misma historieta de cuando era joven.

B1

Grandpa always tells the same yarn about when he was young.

Es una historieta muy larga de contar ahora mismo.

C1

It's a very long story to tell right now.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • anécdota (anecdote)
  • cuento (story/excuse)

Common Collocations

  • contar una historieta – to tell a tale
  • venir con historietas – to come up with excuses/stories

Idioms & Expressions

  • dejarse de historietas – To stop making excuses or beat around the bush

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "historieta" in Spanish:

cartoon→comic book→comic strip→excuse→tale→yarn→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: historieta

Question 1 of 3

If you are reading a 'historieta' in a newspaper, what are you most likely looking at?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Formed by adding the suffix '-eta' (indicating something small or short) to the word 'historia' (story/history), which comes from the Greek 'historía'.

First recorded: 18th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: storiella

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'historieta' the same as 'cómic'?

Yes, they are synonyms. 'Cómic' is a direct loanword from English and is very common today, while 'historieta' is the traditional Spanish word.

Can 'historieta' mean a movie?

No, it specifically refers to printed drawings or spoken anecdotes, not films.

Is it rude to call someone's story a 'historieta'?

It can be. If you say 'esa historieta', it might imply that you don't take their story seriously or think it's a bit of a lie.