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tijeras

/tee-HEH-rahs/

scissors

A pair of open silver scissors with large, brightly colored red handles, suitable for cutting paper.

The most common meaning of 'tijeras' is the cutting tool, scissors.

tijeras(noun)

fA1

scissors

?

cutting tool

,

shears

?

large or heavy-duty scissors

📝 In Action

Por favor, ¿me prestas las tijeras para abrir el paquete?

A1

Please, can you lend me the scissors to open the package?

Estas tijeras de cocina son muy afiladas.

A2

These kitchen shears are very sharp.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • cizalla (heavy-duty shears)

Common Collocations

  • tijeras de papel – paper scissors
  • tijeras de podar – pruning shears

💡 Grammar Points

Always Plural

In Spanish, 'tijeras' is always used in the plural form (ending in -s), even if you are talking about only one single pair. You treat it like a group of things.

Feminine Agreement

Because it is plural and feminine, any words describing it must also be feminine and plural: 'las tijeras rojas' (the red scissors).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Singular Form

Mistake: "Dame la tijera."

Correction: Dame las tijeras. (Even for one pair, use the plural form 'las tijeras'.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Specifying 'A Pair'

If you need to emphasize that you only need one pair, you can say 'un par de tijeras,' but usually, just saying 'tijeras' is enough.

A swimmer's lower body is depicted underwater, showing the legs extended and crossing over each other, illustrating the scissor kick movement.

'Tijeras' can also describe the specific leg movement in swimming or gymnastics known as the scissor kick.

tijeras(noun)

fB2

scissor kick

?

swimming/gymnastics movement

,

scissors (wrestling hold)

?

a leg hold in wrestling

📝 In Action

El luchador aplicó unas tijeras invertidas a su oponente.

B2

The wrestler applied a reverse scissors hold to his opponent.

La patada de tijeras es esencial para el estilo de natación de lado.

C1

The scissor kick is essential for the sidestroke swimming style.

💡 Grammar Points

Figurative Extension

This meaning comes from the way the legs move, resembling the opening and closing action of the physical tool.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: tijeras

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'tijeras'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

tijereta(earwig (insect)) - noun
tijerazo(a cut/snip (with scissors)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'tijeras' plural if I only have one pair?

Many tools that have two main parts joined together (like glasses, pants, or scissors) are treated as plural in Spanish. You always use 'las tijeras' (the scissors) or 'unas tijeras' (some scissors), even for a single item.

Is there a singular form, 'tijera'?

While the word 'tijera' exists, it is rarely used in modern Spanish for the common cutting tool. Stick to the plural 'tijeras' to sound natural.