Inklingo

How to Say "lid" in Spanish

English → Spanish

tapa

TAH-pahˈtapa

nounA2general
Use 'tapa' for the general lid of a jar, bottle, or container where it acts as a simple cover.
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.

tapadera

ta-pa-DE-ratapaˈðeɾa

nounA2general
Use 'tapadera' specifically for the lid of a pot or a cooking container, especially one that fits snugly.
A shiny metal lid with a handle sitting on top of a cooking pot.

Examples

Pon la tapadera en la olla para que el agua hierva más rápido.

Put the lid on the pot so the water boils faster.

No encuentro la tapadera de este recipiente de plástico.

I can't find the lid for this plastic container.

Ten cuidado, la tapadera está muy caliente.

Be careful, the lid is very hot.

Always Feminine

This word ends in 'a' and is feminine. You should always use 'la' or 'una' with it, even if the object it covers (like 'un frasco' - a jar) is masculine.

Tapa vs. Tapadera

While 'tapa' is a general word for any cover, 'tapadera' specifically refers to a lid made to fit a specific container like a pot or a pan.

Gender Error

Mistake: “El tapadera.”

Correction: La tapadera. Remember that most words ending in -dera are feminine in Spanish.

Tapa vs. Tapadera

The most common confusion is deciding between 'tapa' and 'tapadera'. While both mean 'lid', 'tapadera' often implies a lid specifically for cooking pots, while 'tapa' is more general for jars and bottles. In many everyday contexts, 'tapa' will work for both.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.