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pinza

PEEN-sah/ˈpinθa/

clothespin, clip

Also: clamp
NounfA1
A wooden clothespin attached to a simple laundry line.

📝 In Action

Necesito una pinza para cerrar la bolsa de patatas.

A1

I need a clip to close the bag of chips.

Pon las pinzas en la cuerda de tender.

A1

Put the clothespins on the clothesline.

Se puso una pinza azul en el pelo.

A2

She put a blue clip in her hair.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • pinza de la ropa – clothespin
  • pinza para el pelo – hair clip

Idioms & Expressions

  • irse la pinza – To lose one's mind or forget what one was doing/saying temporarily.

tweezers, forceps

Also: tongs
NounfA2
A pair of silver metal tweezers holding a small glowing bead.

📝 In Action

Usa las pinzas para quitarte esa espina.

A2

Use the tweezers to take out that thorn.

El cirujano pidió unas pinzas esterilizadas.

B1

The surgeon asked for some sterilized forceps.

Es difícil manejar estas pinzas tan pequeñas.

B1

It is difficult to handle such small tweezers.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tenacillas (small tongs)

Common Collocations

  • pinzas de depilar – tweezers for plucking hair
  • pinzas de laboratorio – laboratory tongs

claw, dart

NounfB1
The large red claw of a crab.

📝 In Action

El cangrejo me dio un pellizco con su pinza.

B1

The crab gave me a pinch with its claw.

Esta falda necesita una pinza en la cintura para que siente mejor.

B2

This skirt needs a dart at the waist so it fits better.

Ten cuidado con las pinzas del bogavante.

B1

Be careful with the lobster's claws.

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: pinza

Question 1 of 3

If you are hanging wet laundry on a line, what do you need?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
pinzar(to pinch or grip with a tool) — Verb
pinzamiento(a pinched nerve) — Noun
pellizcar(to pinch with fingers) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the verb 'pinzar', which likely comes from a French or Germanic word meaning 'to pinch'. It describes any tool that works by squeezing two points together.

First recorded: 16th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: pinceEnglish: pincers

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it 'la pinza' or 'las pinzas'?

Both are correct! Use 'la pinza' for one single clip or dart. Use 'las pinzas' for a pair of tweezers or multiple clothespins.

Can I use 'pinza' to mean a pinch with my fingers?

Not usually. For a pinch with your fingers, use the word 'pellizco'.

How do I say 'jumper cables' in Spanish?

In many countries, they are called 'pinzas de batería' because of the large clamps at the ends.