Inklingo

tiras

TEE-rahsˈtiɾas

tiras means you throw in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

you throw, you pull

Also: you shoot, you waste
VerbA1regular ar
A colorful illustration showing a young person standing outdoors, mid-action, throwing a bright red ball high into the air.
infinitivetirar
past Participletirado
gerundtirando

📝 In Action

¿Por qué tiras la basura aquí? Hay un bote.

A1

Why are you throwing the trash here? There's a can.

Si tiras muy fuerte de la cuerda, se va a romper.

A2

If you pull the rope too hard, it's going to break.

tiras el dinero en cosas inútiles.

B1

You waste money on useless things.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • tirar la toallato throw in the towel (to give up)
  • tirar fotosto take pictures (regional, especially Mexico)

Idioms & Expressions

  • tirar de la lenguaTo get someone to talk, to loosen their tongue

strips, bands

Also: comic strips, police
NounfA2
A simple illustration of four distinct, long, narrow strips of colored fabric, such as blue, yellow, green, and red, lying side by side on a neutral surface.

📝 In Action

Necesito dos tiras de tela roja para el proyecto.

A2

I need two strips of red fabric for the project.

Siempre leo las tiras de Mafalda en internet.

B1

I always read the Mafalda comic strips online.

Las tiras adhesivas no pegan bien en esta superficie.

A2

The adhesive strips don't stick well to this surface.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • franjas (stripes/bands)
  • cintas (tapes/ribbons)

Common Collocations

  • tiras de pollochicken strips
  • tiras reactivastest strips (medical/chemical)

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

yotirara/tirase
él/ella/ustedtirara/tirase
nosotrostiráramos/tirásemos
vosotrostirarais/tiraseis
ellos/ellas/ustedestiraran/tirasen
tiraras/tirases

present

yotire
él/ella/ustedtire
nosotrostiremos
vosotrostiréis
ellos/ellas/ustedestiren
tires

indicative

preterite

yotiré
él/ella/ustedtiró
nosotrostiramos
vosotrostirasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedestiraron
tiraste

imperfect

yotiraba
él/ella/ustedtiraba
nosotrostirábamos
vosotrostirabais
ellos/ellas/ustedestiraban
tirabas

present

yotiro
él/ella/ustedtira
nosotrostiramos
vosotrostiráis
ellos/ellas/ustedestiran
tiras

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: tiras

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'tiras' to mean 'strips or bands'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
mirasgiras
📚 Etymology

The noun 'tira' (strip) comes from the Latin word *tīra*, meaning a long piece of land or fabric. The verb form 'tiras' (from *tirar*) has a separate origin, tracing back to the Germanic root *tīran*, meaning 'to pull' or 'to draw.'

First recorded: Both roots are ancient, appearing in various forms throughout Old Spanish texts.

Cognates (Related words)

French: tirerPortuguese: tirar

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Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if 'tiras' is the noun or the verb?

Look at the words around it! If you see 'tú' or the sentence is clearly about what 'you' are doing, it's the verb ('Tú tiras la basura'). If you see 'las' or an adjective (like 'rojas') next to it, it is almost certainly the plural noun ('Las tiras rojas').

Does 'tiras' ever mean 'to shoot'?

Yes, 'tirar' can mean 'to shoot' (like a gun or a photograph), so 'tiras' means 'you shoot.' This meaning is common in some regions, but 'disparar' is a more universal word for shooting a weapon.