Inklingo
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A fluffy blue bath towel hanging neatly on a silver towel rack.

toalla

toh-AH-yah

nounfA1
towel?cloth used for drying
Also:bath towel?large towel for the body,hand towel?small towel for hands

📝 In Action

¿Me pasas la toalla, por favor? La necesito para secarme.

A1

Can you pass me the towel, please? I need it to dry myself.

Olvidé mi toalla de playa en casa. ¿Podemos comprar una?

A2

I forgot my beach towel at home. Can we buy one?

En el gimnasio siempre te dan una toalla limpia.

A2

They always give you a clean towel at the gym.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • toalla de baño – bath towel
  • toalla de papel – paper towel
  • secarse con la toalla – to dry oneself with the towel

Idioms & Expressions

  • tirar la toalla – to give up or surrender (like quitting a fight)

💡 Grammar Points

Feminine Noun

Since 'toalla' is a feminine word, you must use feminine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'la toalla,' 'una toalla limpia').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Towel vs. Napkin

Mistake: "Using 'toalla' when referring to a napkin or serviette used at the dining table."

Correction: Use 'servilleta' (napkin) for dining. 'Toalla' is specifically for drying liquids or the body.

⭐ Usage Tips

Specifying the Type

To be clear about which kind of towel you mean, add 'de' plus the context: 'toalla de baño' (bath) or 'toalla de cocina' (kitchen/dish).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: toalla

Question 1 of 2

If someone says, 'Él tiró la toalla,' what do they mean?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

toallero(towel rack/rail) - noun
toallita(small towel; wipe (as in baby wipe)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'll' in 'toalla' pronounced like a 'y' sound?

This is very common in Spanish! The double 'll' used to have a unique sound (like the 'li' in 'million'), but in most of Latin America and much of Spain, it merged with the 'y' sound. This phenomenon is called 'yeísmo,' and it's completely standard.

How do I ask for a paper towel in Spanish?

While 'toalla de papel' works perfectly, you might also hear 'papel de cocina' (kitchen paper) or 'servilleta de papel' (paper napkin) depending on the context and region.