A close-up view of a human forearm featuring a simple, colorful storybook-style tattoo depicting a stylized blue bird.

tatuaje

tah-TOO-ah-heh

nounmA2

tattoo?body art

Also:ink?informal/slang reference to a tattoo

📝 In Action

¿Te gusta mi nuevo tatuaje en el brazo?

Do you like my new tattoo on my arm?

Ella quiere hacerse un tatuaje de una mariposa.

She wants to get a butterfly tattoo.

El tatuaje tribal tiene un significado cultural profundo.

The tribal tattoo has a deep cultural meaning.

Word Connections

Synonyms

tatoo (tattoo (less common spelling))

Common Collocations

hacerse un tatuaje – to get a tattoo
borrar un tatuaje – to remove a tattoo
diseño de tatuaje – tattoo design

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun Rule

Even though many Spanish words ending in -e are feminine, 'tatuaje' is always masculine. Remember: 'el tatuaje', not 'la tatuaje'. This pattern is common for words ending in -aje.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Incorrect Gender

Mistake: "La tatuaje es muy visible."

Correction: El tatuaje es muy visible. (Remember it's masculine, like 'el viaje' or 'el garaje'.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Getting a Tattoo

To talk about receiving a tattoo, the most natural phrase is 'hacerse un tatuaje' (literally, 'to make oneself a tattoo'), using the reflexive verb 'hacerse'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: tatuaje

Question 1 of 2

Which phrase is the most natural way to say 'I want to get a tattoo'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

tatuar(to tattoo) - verb

tatuador(tattoo artist (male)) - noun

tatuadora(tattoo artist (female)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'tatuaje' masculine if it ends in -e?

Spanish has a group of common words ending in -aje (like 'viaje,' 'garaje,' and 'tatuaje') that are exceptions to the usual rules and are always masculine. You must use 'el' before them.

Is there a verb form related to 'tatuaje'?

Yes, the verb is 'tatuar,' which means 'to tattoo' or 'to apply a tattoo.' The person who does it is a 'tatuador' or 'tatuadora'.