raya
/RRAH-yah/
line
Raya as a noun means 'line', like a mark drawn on a surface.
raya(noun)
line
?A mark drawn on a surface
,stripe
?A long band of color
dash
?A short, quick line
,streak
?A mark or smear
📝 In Action
Dibuja una raya horizontal en el cuaderno.
A1Draw a horizontal line in the notebook.
La cebra tiene rayas blancas y negras.
A2The zebra has white and black stripes.
No cruces la raya roja en el suelo.
A1Don't cross the red line on the floor.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Reminder
Even though 'raya' ends in 'a', it is feminine, like most Spanish nouns ending in 'a'. Use 'la raya' or 'una raya'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Visual Context
'Raya' is often used for things that are marked, drawn, or naturally striped, like clothing, roads, or notebooks.
Raya can also refer to the 'part' or parting line in hair.
📝 In Action
Ella siempre lleva la raya en el medio.
A2She always wears her part in the middle.
Me gusta la raya lateral en tu pelo.
B1I like the side part in your hair.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't use 'Parte'
Mistake: "Using 'la parte' for hair parting."
Correction: Always use 'la raya' when referring to the line in the hair. 'Parte' means 'portion' or 'section'.
Raya is the Spanish name for the 'skate' fish, a flat marine creature.
📝 In Action
El plato de hoy es ala de raya a la mantequilla.
B1Today's dish is buttered skate wing.
Vimos una raya enorme nadando cerca de la costa.
B2We saw a huge ray swimming near the coast.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
If you hear 'raya' in a restaurant or near the sea, it almost certainly refers to the fish.
Raya, as a verb form, means 'scratches' or scores a surface.
raya(verb)
scratches
?3rd person singular present tense (e.g., He scratches)
,marks
?3rd person singular present tense (e.g., It marks)
grates
?3rd person singular present tense (e.g., She grates cheese)
📝 In Action
El lápiz raya la pared accidentalmente.
A2The pencil scratches the wall accidentally.
Si el carro raya la pintura, será caro.
B1If the car scratches the paint, it will be expensive.
¡Raya la zanahoria!
A2Grate the carrot! (Tú command)
💡 Grammar Points
Homophone Alert
'Raya' (the verb form) sounds exactly like 'raya' (the noun). Pay attention to the surrounding words to know if it's an action or a thing.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: raya
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'raya' to mean 'a boundary or limit'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'raya' means 'line' or 'the verb form of 'to scratch'?
Look at the words around it. If it follows an article (la/una) or an adjective (roja/amarilla), it's the noun 'line.' If it follows a subject pronoun (él/ella) or is used as a command, it's the verb form 'scratches/grates'.
Is 'raya' used for all types of lines?
'Raya' is great for visual lines, stripes, or marks. For lines of text or queues of people, 'línea' or 'cola' are usually better choices.