traza
“traza” means “appearance” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
appearanceAlso: look, manner
📝 In Action
Ese proyecto tiene buena traza.
B1That project looks promising (has a good look).
Llevaba traza de estar muy cansado.
B2He had the appearance of being very tired.
No me gusta la traza de ese desconocido.
C1I don't like the look of that stranger.
Word Connections
traceAlso: sign, outline
📝 In Action
Este chocolate puede contener trazas de leche.
A2This chocolate may contain traces of milk.
No queda ni una traza del antiguo castillo.
B2Not a single trace of the old castle remains.
Siguieron la traza del camino romano.
C1They followed the outline of the Roman road.
Word Connections
he/she/it sketchesAlso: draw!, traces
📝 In Action
Ella traza el mapa con mucha precisión.
B1She draws the map with great precision.
¡Traza una línea recta aquí!
A2Draw a straight line here!
El arquitecto traza los planos del edificio.
B1The architect sketches the building plans.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: traza
Question 1 of 3
If you see 'trazas de soja' on a food label, what does it mean?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
From the verb 'trazar', which comes from the Vulgar Latin 'tractiare', meaning 'to drag or pull', referring to pulling a tool across a surface to make a mark.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'traza' the same as 'huella'?
Not quite. 'Huella' is usually a physical footprint or a deep mark left behind, while 'traza' often refers to a tiny remnant (like in food) or the general 'look' of something.
Can 'traza' be used for people?
Yes! If you say someone has 'mala traza', you mean they look suspicious, messy, or unwell.
Is it a common word?
The meaning 'trace/small amount' is very common in science and labels. The meaning 'appearance' is common in stories and more descriptive speech.