How to Say "canvas" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “canvas” is “lona” — use 'lona' when referring to the durable, heavy-duty fabric itself, often used for things like bags, tents, or shoes..
lona
/lo-nah//ˈlona/
Examples
Compré unos zapatos de lona para el verano.
I bought some canvas shoes for the summer.
Mis zapatos de lona nuevos son muy cómodos.
My new canvas shoes are very comfortable.
Pusimos una lona sobre el coche para protegerlo del sol.
We put a tarp over the car to protect it from the sun.
La carpa del circo está hecha de una lona muy resistente.
The circus tent is made of a very strong canvas.
Describing Material
To say something is made of canvas, use the pattern 'object + de + lona'. For example, 'mochila de lona' (canvas backpack).
Specific Locations
In sports, 'la lona' is often used with the preposition 'a' (to) or 'en' (on) to describe where a fighter has landed.
Lona vs. Lienzo
Mistake: “Using 'lona' for an artist's painting surface.”
Correction: Use 'lienzo' for art and 'lona' for heavy materials like tents, sails, or shoes.
lienzo
/lee-en-so//ˈljen.so/
Examples
El artista preparó un lienzo nuevo para su obra maestra.
The artist prepared a new canvas for his masterpiece.
Compré un lienzo en blanco para empezar mi pintura.
I bought a blank canvas to start my painting.
El cuadro fue pintado al óleo sobre lienzo.
The picture was painted with oils on canvas.
El museo exhibe lienzos de los artistas más famosos.
The museum displays canvases by the most famous artists.
Always Masculine
The word 'lienzo' is always masculine, so you should always use 'el' or 'un' with it, regardless of the size of the canvas.
Canvas vs. Painting
Mistake: “Using 'lienzo' for every picture on a wall.”
Correction: Use 'cuadro' for a framed picture or the artwork as a whole; use 'lienzo' specifically for the fabric surface itself.
lona
/lo-nah//ˈlona/
Examples
El púgil se levantó justo antes de que contaran hasta diez en la lona.
The boxer got up just before the count of ten on the canvas.
Mis zapatos de lona nuevos son muy cómodos.
My new canvas shoes are very comfortable.
Pusimos una lona sobre el coche para protegerlo del sol.
We put a tarp over the car to protect it from the sun.
La carpa del circo está hecha de una lona muy resistente.
The circus tent is made of a very strong canvas.
Describing Material
To say something is made of canvas, use the pattern 'object + de + lona'. For example, 'mochila de lona' (canvas backpack).
Specific Locations
In sports, 'la lona' is often used with the preposition 'a' (to) or 'en' (on) to describe where a fighter has landed.
Lona vs. Lienzo
Mistake: “Using 'lona' for an artist's painting surface.”
Correction: Use 'lienzo' for art and 'lona' for heavy materials like tents, sails, or shoes.
Fabric vs. Art Surface
Related Translations
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