Inklingo

How to Say "comic strip" in Spanish

English → Spanish

cómic

nounA1general
Use 'cómic' when referring to a comic book or a longer narrative comic, which may or may not be sequential drawings. It can also refer to the genre itself.

Examples

Tengo un cómic nuevo sobre superhéroes.

I have a new comic book about superheroes.

historieta

ees-toh-ree-eh-tahistoˈɾjeta

nounA2general
Use 'historieta' for a sequence of drawings, typically found in a newspaper or magazine, that tells a story. This is a very common and direct translation for 'comic strip'.
A row of three colorful panels showing a small cat chasing a red ball.

Examples

Leí una historieta muy divertida en el periódico hoy.

I read a very funny comic strip in the newspaper today.

De niño, mi habitación estaba llena de historietas de superhéroes.

As a child, my room was full of superhero comic books.

Mafalda es la historieta más famosa de Argentina.

Mafalda is the most famous comic strip from Argentina.

Always Feminine

Since it ends in '-a' and comes from 'historia', it is always feminine. Use 'la' or 'una' with it.

Making it Plural

To talk about more than one, simply add an '-s' to the end: 'las historietas'.

Historieta vs. Historia

Mistake: “Usar 'historia' para referirse a un cómic.”

Correction: Use 'historieta' when there are drawings involved. 'Historia' usually refers to a text-based story or history as a school subject.

tira

TEE-rahˈti.ɾa

nounB1general
Use 'tira' specifically for a short, single-panel or multi-panel cartoon that appears in a newspaper, often part of a larger comics section.
A horizontal sequence of three simple cartoon-style illustrations showing a character performing a small action progression.

Examples

Mi parte favorita del periódico es siempre la tira cómica.

My favorite part of the newspaper is always the comic strip.

Esta tira es muy graciosa, ¡mira el dibujo del perro!

This strip is very funny, look at the drawing of the dog!

Cómic vs. Historieta vs. Tira

Learners often confuse 'cómic' and 'historieta'. Remember that 'historieta' is the most direct translation for a sequential comic strip in a publication. 'Cómic' is broader and often refers to a comic book or the genre itself.

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