pastilla
/pas-TEE-yah/
pill
A medicinal pill, known in Spanish as a pastilla.
📝 In Action
Tengo que tomar una pastilla para el dolor de cabeza.
A1I have to take a pill for my headache.
¿Cuántas pastillas te recetó el médico?
A2How many pills did the doctor prescribe you?
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and Articles
This word is feminine, so you should always use 'la' or 'una' with it (la pastilla, una pastilla).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Pillar' vs 'Tomar'
Mistake: "Yo pillo una pastilla."
Correction: Always use 'tomar' (to take) when talking about medicine. Say 'tomo una pastilla'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Pill vs. Tablet
While 'píldora' exists, 'pastilla' is the most common word used in pharmacies and at home for any solid medicine you swallow.
A bar of soap, often called a pastilla de jabón.
pastilla(noun)
bar
?soap or chocolate
,block
?concentrated ingredients like bouillon
cake
?a solid block of a substance
📝 In Action
Compré una pastilla de jabón con olor a lavanda.
A2I bought a bar of soap with a lavender scent.
Añade una pastilla de caldo a la sopa.
B1Add a bouillon cube (stock block) to the soup.
⭐ Usage Tips
Shapes Matter
Use 'pastilla' for things that are small, flat, and usually rectangular or circular, like a small bar of soap or a stock cube.
In mechanics, a brake pad is referred to as a pastilla de freno.
📝 In Action
Tengo que cambiar las pastillas de freno del coche.
B2I have to change the car's brake pads.
Esta guitarra tiene unas pastillas muy potentes.
C1This guitar has some very powerful pickups.
⭐ Usage Tips
Mechanic Talk
When you hear 'pastillas' at a car garage, they are almost always talking about the brakes!
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: pastilla
Question 1 of 2
If you are in a pharmacy and ask for a 'pastilla', what are you likely looking for?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'pastilla' only for medicine?
No! While medicine is the most common use, it also describes bars of soap, bouillon cubes, and even technical parts like guitar pickups or brake pads.
Can I use 'pastilla' for a candy bar?
Not usually. For a candy bar, 'barra' or 'barrita' is better. 'Pastilla' is used for small, hard candies like lozenges or mints.