Inklingo

How to Say "necklace" in Spanish

English → Spanish

collar

/koh-YAR//koˈʎaɾ/

nounA1jewelry
Use 'collar' for any piece of jewelry designed to be worn around the neck, such as pendants, chokers, or beaded necklaces.
A simple silver chain necklace with a small, circular blue pendant, displayed against a soft background.

Examples

Mi abuela me regaló un collar de plata para mi cumpleaños.

My grandmother gave me a silver necklace for my birthday.

Asegúrate de ponerle el collar al perro antes de sacarlo a pasear.

Make sure you put the collar on the dog before taking him for a walk.

El cuello de la camisa tiene un collar muy elegante.

The shirt's neck has a very elegant collar.

Masculine Noun Rule

Even though 'collar' ends in -ar, it is a masculine noun, so you always use 'el' (el collar) or 'un' (un collar).

Gender Confusion

Mistake: “La collar es bonita.”

Correction: El collar es bonito. (Since the word is masculine, the description word 'bonito' must also be masculine.)

cadena

/kah-DEH-nah//kaˈðena/

nounA2jewelry
Use 'cadena' when referring to a necklace that is primarily a chain, especially if it's a simple metal chain without a prominent pendant, or for non-jewelry items like a chain for a lock.
A close-up view of several interlocking metallic chain links lying on a surface.

Examples

Llevaba una delgada cadena de oro al cuello.

She wore a thin gold chain around her neck.

Necesito una cadena para atar mi bicicleta en la calle.

I need a chain to lock up my bike in the street.

Ella llevaba una cadena de oro muy elegante.

She was wearing a very elegant gold necklace.

Gender Alert

Even though 'cadena' ends in '-a', remember that it is always a feminine noun, requiring 'la' or 'una'.

Collar vs. Cadena

The most common mistake is using 'cadena' for all types of necklaces. Remember that 'collar' is the general term for neck jewelry, while 'cadena' specifically implies a chain, which might be part of a necklace or a separate item.

Related Translations

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