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How to Say "rag" in Spanish

English → Spanish

trapo

/TRAH-poh//ˈtɾapo/

nounA1informal
Use 'trapo' when referring to a general-purpose cloth used for wiping, cleaning surfaces, or drying, similar to a dish rag or cleaning 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.

paño

nounA2informal
Use 'paño' when referring to a cloth used for cleaning, especially if it's a bit more specific, like a polishing cloth or a cleaning cloth for delicate surfaces.

Examples

Limpia la mesa con un paño húmedo.

Clean the table with a damp cloth.

Choosing Between Trapo and Paño

The most common mistake is using 'paño' when 'trapo' would be more natural for everyday cleaning. While 'paño' can mean 'cloth', 'trapo' is the go-to word for a common cleaning rag or wiping cloth.

Related Translations

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