toalla
“toalla” means “towel” in Spanish (cloth used for drying).
towel
Also: bath towel, hand towel
📝 In Action
¿Me pasas la toalla, por favor? La necesito para secarme.
A1Can you pass me the towel, please? I need it to dry myself.
Olvidé mi toalla de playa en casa. ¿Podemos comprar una?
A2I forgot my beach towel at home. Can we buy one?
En el gimnasio siempre te dan una toalla limpia.
A2They always give you a clean towel at the gym.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: toalla
Question 1 of 2
If someone says, 'Él tiró la toalla,' what do they mean?
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👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes through Old French *toaille* and ultimately from a Germanic root, related to the idea of a piece of cloth or covering.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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.