reja
“reja” means “grille” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
grille, bars
Also: railing, gate
📝 In Action
Mi abuela puso rejas en las ventanas por seguridad.
A2My grandmother put grilles on the windows for security.
El jardín está protegido por una reja de hierro muy antigua.
B1The garden is protected by a very old iron railing.
El criminal pasará muchos años tras las rejas.
B1The criminal will spend many years behind bars.
plowshare
📝 In Action
La reja del arado se rompió al chocar con una piedra.
C1The plowshare broke when it hit a stone.
Es necesario limpiar la reja después de trabajar la tierra.
C2It is necessary to clean the plowshare after working the soil.
El herrero está afilando la reja.
C1The blacksmith is sharpening the plowshare.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: reja
Question 1 of 3
If someone is 'tras las rejas', where are they?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'regula', meaning a straight piece of wood or a ruler. The agricultural sense comes from Latin 'ralla' (a scraper).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 'reja' different from a 'valla'?
Yes! A 'valla' is a general fence (like a wooden fence around a yard). A 'reja' specifically refers to metal bars or a grille, usually on a window or as a decorative gate.
Why do I often hear it in the plural 'rejas'?
Because window grilles and prison bars consist of many individual bars, Spanish speakers often refer to the whole structure in the plural, even if talking about one window.
Is it used for the 'grill' I cook meat on?
No. For a cooking grill, you should use the word 'parrilla'.