Inklingo

How to Say "cap" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “cap” is “gorro” — use 'gorro' for a brimless, soft hat worn on the head, like a beanie or skullcap.

gorro🔊A1

Use 'gorro' for a brimless, soft hat worn on the head, like a beanie or skullcap.

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tapa🔊A2

Use 'tapa' for a lid or cover that seals an opening, such as on a bottle, jar, or pen.

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tapón🔊A2

Use 'tapón' specifically for a stopper or cap that seals the opening of a bottle or container.

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capucha🔊A2

Use 'capucha' for a hood attached to a garment, like a jacket or sweatshirt.

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tope🔊B1

Use 'tope' to refer to a maximum limit or ceiling, especially for money, prices, or quantities.

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techo🔊B2

Use 'techo' for a financial or regulatory maximum, often implying an upper limit that cannot be exceeded.

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corona🔊B2

Use 'corona' for a dental crown, which is a cap placed over a damaged tooth.

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toca🔊B2

Use 'toca' for a specific type of head covering, often worn by nurses, chefs, or nuns.

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English → Spanish

gorro

GOH-rrohˈɡoro

nounA1general
Use 'gorro' for a brimless, soft hat worn on the head, like a beanie or skullcap.
A cozy, knitted wool beanie with a pom-pom on top, resting on a wooden surface.

Examples

Me puse un gorro de lana porque está nevando.

I put on a wool beanie because it is snowing.

Es obligatorio usar gorro en la piscina municipal.

It is mandatory to use a swim cap in the local pool.

El cirujano se ajustó el gorro antes de empezar la operación.

The surgeon adjusted his medical cap before starting the operation.

Gender Agreement

Gorro is a masculine word. Always use 'el' or 'un' with it, even if the person wearing it is a woman.

Describing Purpose

To say what the cap is for, use 'gorro de' + the activity. For example: 'gorro de dormir' (sleeping cap).

Gorro vs. Gorra

Mistake: “Using 'gorro' for a baseball hat.”

Correction: Use 'gorra' for hats with a visor or brim at the front, and 'gorro' for soft, round hats like beanies.

tapa

TAH-pahˈtapa

nounA2general
Use 'tapa' for a lid or cover that seals an opening, such as on a bottle, jar, or pen.
A simple silver metal lid sitting loosely on top of a clear glass canning jar.

Examples

Cierra el bote con su tapa para que no se seque.

Close the jar with its lid so it doesn't dry out.

La tapa de la botella está rota.

The cap of the bottle is broken.

Necesito quitar la tapa de la olla para ver si el agua hierve.

I need to take the lid off the pot to see if the water is boiling.

tapón

ta-PONtaˈpon

nounA2general
Use 'tapón' specifically for a stopper or cap that seals the opening of a bottle or container.
A wooden cork stopper sitting next to a glass bottle.

Examples

No encuentro el tapón de la botella de agua.

I can't find the cap for the water bottle.

Quita el tapón para que salga el agua del fregadero.

Take the plug out so the water can drain from the sink.

La botella de vino tiene un tapón de corcho.

The wine bottle has a cork stopper.

The Disappearing Accent

When you make this word plural (more than one), the accent mark on the 'o' disappears: 'un tapón' becomes 'dos tapones'.

Tapón vs. Tapa

Mistake: “Using 'tapón' for the lid of a cooking pot.”

Correction: Use 'tapa' for lids that sit on top, and 'tapón' for things that fit inside or screw onto a small opening.

capucha

ka-POO-chakaˈput͡ʃa

nounA2general
Use 'capucha' for a hood attached to a garment, like a jacket or sweatshirt.
A bright red sweatshirt with its hood pulled up.

Examples

Ponte la capucha, que está empezando a llover.

Put your hood on; it's starting to rain.

Prefiero comprar sudaderas que tengan una capucha grande.

I prefer to buy sweatshirts that have a big hood.

El sospechoso llevaba una capucha para que no se viera su cara.

The suspect was wearing a hood so his face wouldn't be seen.

Always Feminine

Even if a man is wearing it, the word is always 'la capucha'. Don't forget to match your describing words (adjectives) to its feminine ending, like 'una capucha negra'.

Describing Clothes

To say something 'has' a hood, Spanish uses the word 'con' (with). Instead of saying 'a hooded jacket,' you say 'una chaqueta con capucha'.

Capucha vs. Gorro

Mistake: “Using 'capucha' for a winter woolly hat.”

Correction: Use 'gorro' for a hat you put on separately, and 'capucha' for the one that is physically attached to your jacket or sweater.

tope

toh-pehˈto.pe

nounB1general
Use 'tope' to refer to a maximum limit or ceiling, especially for money, prices, or quantities.
A colorful storybook illustration of a glass jar filled to the very brim with gold coins, with one coin resting on top.

Examples

El gobierno puso un tope a los precios.

The government put a cap on prices.

Hay un tope salarial en esta empresa.

There is a salary cap in this company.

Llegamos al tope de nuestra capacidad.

We reached the limit of our capacity.

Abstract use

When used for money or numbers, it functions just like 'limit' in English.

Using 'techo' for everything

Mistake: “El techo de gastos”

Correction: El tope de gastos (While 'techo' works for 'ceiling', 'tope' is much more common for specific financial caps).

techo

TAY-choˈte.tʃo

nounB2general
Use 'techo' for a financial or regulatory maximum, often implying an upper limit that cannot be exceeded.
A storybook illustration showing a stack of colorful blocks hitting a solid horizontal wooden plank, symbolizing a hard limit or maximum capacity.

Examples

Han puesto un techo al precio de la gasolina.

They have put a cap on the price of gasoline.

Siento que he tocado techo en esta empresa; ya no puedo ascender más.

I feel like I've hit the ceiling in this company; I can't be promoted any further.

Figurative Use

When 'techo' is used figuratively, it refers to the highest point or limit you can reach, often in a career or economic situation.

Using 'Límite' vs. 'Techo'

Mistake: “Sometimes learners use 'límite' when 'techo' sounds more idiomatic for a maximum level.”

Correction: Use 'techo' for established caps (like salary or debt) or reaching a personal peak. Example: 'Hemos llegado al techo de la deuda' (We've reached the debt ceiling).

corona

koh-ROH-nahkoˈɾo.na

nounB2medical
Use 'corona' for a dental crown, which is a cap placed over a damaged tooth.
A close-up illustration of a single white tooth with a perfectly fitted, shiny white dental crown placed over it.

Examples

El dentista me dijo que necesito una corona de porcelana.

The dentist told me I need a porcelain crown.

La corona de la muela está floja.

The crown of the molar is loose.

toca

TOH-kahˈtoka

nounB2professional
Use 'toca' for a specific type of head covering, often worn by nurses, chefs, or nuns.
A stylized illustration of a person wearing a traditional stiff white head covering known as a coif.

Examples

Las enfermeras usaban una toca blanca durante la operación.

The nurses wore a white cap during the operation.

La toca de la monja cubría su rostro casi por completo.

The nun's wimple covered her face almost completely.

Tapa vs. Tapón

Learners often confuse 'tapa' and 'tapón' for bottle caps. While both mean 'cap' or 'lid', 'tapón' specifically refers to a stopper that seals a bottle's opening, whereas 'tapa' is a more general term for any kind of lid or cover.

Related Translations

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