Inklingo

How to Say "fabric" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “fabric” is “tela” — use 'tela' when referring to textile material in general, especially for clothing, curtains, or upholstery. It's the most versatile and common term.

English → Spanish

tela

TAY-lahˈtela

nounA2general
Use 'tela' when referring to textile material in general, especially for clothing, curtains, or upholstery. It's the most versatile and common term.
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
Choose 'tejido' when you specifically mean material for clothing or crafts, emphasizing the woven or knitted structure of the fabric.
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'.

material

mah-teh-ree-AHLma.teˈɾjal

nounA1general
Use 'material' when referring to supplies or raw components needed for a project, not necessarily just cloth. It can also refer to the substance something is made of in a broader sense.
A colorful storybook illustration showing three distinct raw materials stacked neatly: a wooden plank, a coiled metal wire, and a swatch of blue fabric.

Examples

Necesito comprar material escolar para el niño.

I need to buy school supplies for the child.

Este material es muy resistente al agua.

This material is very water resistant.

El carpintero tiene todo el material listo para empezar la obra.

The carpenter has all the equipment ready to start the work.

Gender Check

Even though it ends in -al, 'material' is a masculine noun. Always use 'el material' or 'un material'.

Using 'Materiales' for Everything

Mistake: “¿Tienes el material para el proyecto?”

Correction: When talking about general 'supplies' or 'stuff,' use the singular 'el material.' Use the plural 'los materiales' only if you mean distinct types of materials (e.g., 'madera y metal son materiales').

textil

teks-TEELteksˈtil

nounB1formal/technical
Opt for 'textil' in more technical, academic, or commercial contexts, referring to textile products or the textile industry as a whole.
A neat stack of folded colorful fabrics with different textures.

Examples

El museo tiene una colección de textiles antiguos.

The museum has a collection of ancient textiles.

Exportamos textiles de alta calidad a Europa.

We export high-quality textiles to Europe.

Los textiles sintéticos son más resistentes.

Synthetic textiles are more resistant.

Using the Plural

In Spanish, when talking about the general category of fabrics or cloths, we almost always use the plural form 'los textiles'.

Textil vs. Tela

Mistake: “Compré un textil para hacerme una falda.”

Correction: Compré una tela para hacerme una falda. Use 'textil' for industrial or technical contexts, and 'tela' for everyday fabric used for sewing.

Tela vs. Tejido

Learners often confuse 'tela' and 'tejido'. While both mean fabric for clothing or crafts, 'tela' is the more general and widely used term. Use 'tejido' when you want to emphasize the woven or knitted aspect.

Related Translations

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