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pestaña

pes-TAH-nyah/pesˈtaɲa/

“pestaña” means “eyelash” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

eyelash

Also: fringe
NounfA2
A close-up illustration of a single human eye with long, dark eyelashes.

📝 In Action

Ella tiene las pestañas muy largas y rizadas.

A2

She has very long and curly eyelashes.

Me entró una pestaña en el ojo y me molesta mucho.

A2

An eyelash got in my eye and it's really bothering me.

Cierra los ojos para que te ponga el rímel en las pestañas.

B1

Close your eyes so I can put mascara on your eyelashes.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • pestañas postizas – false eyelashes
  • batir las pestañas – to flutter one's eyelashes

Idioms & Expressions

  • quemarse las pestañas – To study or work very hard, especially late at night.
  • no pegar pestaña – To not sleep a wink.

tab

Also: flap
NounfA2
A colorful file folder with a single protruding tab at the top.

📝 In Action

Tengo demasiadas pestañas abiertas en mi navegador.

A2

I have too many tabs open in my browser.

Haz clic en la pestaña de 'Archivos' para ver los documentos.

A2

Click on the 'Files' tab to see the documents.

Dobla la pestaña de la caja hacia adentro.

B1

Fold the flap of the box inward.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • solapa (flap/lapel)

Common Collocations

  • abrir una pestaña – to open a tab
  • navegación por pestañas – tabbed browsing

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "pestaña" in Spanish:

eyelash→flap→tab→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: pestaña

Question 1 of 3

If you are using Google Chrome and want to see a new website without closing the current one, you open a new...

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
pestañear(to blink) — Verb
pestañeo(a blink / blinking) — Noun
despestañarse(to wear oneself out (figurative)) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
montañaarañamañana
📚 Etymology▼

Derived from the old Spanish word 'pistaña,' which likely comes from a Vulgar Latin root referring to something that is crushed or pressed, later evolving to describe the fringe-like appearance of hair on the eyelid.

First recorded: 15th Century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: pestanaFrench: pistaner (rare/dialectal)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'pestaña' used for the 'Tab' key on a keyboard?

No. The keyboard key is called 'el tabulador' or simply 'el Tab.' 'Pestaña' refers to the tabs in a browser or on a physical folder.

What is the difference between 'pestaña' and 'ceja'?

Pestañas are the hairs on your eyelids (eyelashes). Cejas are the arches of hair above your eyes (eyebrows).

Can 'pestaña' mean a physical flap?

Yes, it can refer to the small cardboard flap you tuck in to close a box or an envelope.