Inklingo

How to Say "cloth" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “cloth” is “tela” — use 'tela' when referring to the material used for making clothes, upholstery, or other similar items.

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tela

TAY-lahˈtela

nounA2general
Use 'tela' when referring to the material used for making clothes, upholstery, or other similar items.
A smooth piece of richly textured red fabric draped over a wooden spool.

Examples

Esta chaqueta está hecha de una tela muy suave.

This jacket is made of a very soft fabric.

Necesito un metro de tela roja para el proyecto.

I need one meter of red cloth for the project.

El sofá está tapizado con una tela resistente.

The sofa is upholstered with a resistant material.

Gender Check

Remember that 'tela' is always feminine, so you must use 'la' or 'una' before it, and any describing words (adjectives) must also end in '-a' (e.g., 'la tela suave').

tejido

te-JI-doteˈxiðo

nounA2general
Use 'tejido' when you specifically mean textile material, emphasizing its woven or knitted structure, often for larger projects like curtains.
A large piece of bright red, soft cotton cloth is folded neatly, resting on a light wooden surface, illustrating fabric.

Examples

Necesito comprar un tejido de algodón para hacer las cortinas.

I need to buy a cotton fabric to make the curtains.

Este tipo de tejido es muy resistente al agua.

This type of cloth is very water-resistant.

Gender Check

Even though 'tela' (fabric) is feminine, 'tejido' is masculine. Remember to use 'el' or 'un': 'el tejido'.

paño

nounA2general
Use 'paño' for a smaller, specific piece of cloth used for cleaning, wiping, or polishing.

Examples

Limpia la mesa con un paño húmedo.

Clean the table with a damp cloth.

trapo

TRAH-pohˈtɾapo

nounA1informal
Use 'trapo' for a general, often older or worn, piece of fabric primarily used for cleaning, similar to a rag.
A worn, colorful cotton cloth sitting on a wooden table, used for cleaning.

Examples

Limpia el polvo con un trapo húmedo.

Wipe the dust with a damp rag.

Necesito un trapo viejo para secar el suelo.

I need an old cloth to dry the floor.

Deja el trapo de cocina sobre el mostrador.

Leave the dishcloth on the counter.

Masculine Ending

Since this word ends in 'o', it is masculine. You should always use 'el' or 'un' with it.

Simple Plurals

To talk about more than one, simply add an 's' to the end: 'los trapos'.

Trapo vs. Ropa

Mistake: “Using 'trapo' to mean 'clothing' in a formal setting.”

Correction: Use 'ropa' for general clothes. Use 'trapo' only for cleaning rags or very informal/slang references to clothes.

género

nounB2commercial
Use 'género' in a more commercial context to refer to fabric or textile material as a commodity or type of goods.

Examples

El comerciante recibió ayer el nuevo género.

The merchant received the new goods yesterday.

Distinguishing 'tela', 'tejido', and 'paño'

Learners often confuse 'tela' and 'tejido' for general fabric. Remember 'tela' is more common for clothing material, while 'tejido' emphasizes the textile structure. 'Paño' is specifically for a piece of cloth used for cleaning.

Related Translations

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