Inklingo

How to Say "sleeve" in Spanish

English → Spanish

manga

/MAHN-gah//ˈmaŋɡa/

nounA1general
Use 'manga' when referring to the part of a shirt, jacket, or other garment that covers the arm.
A close-up of a long sleeve on a colorful knitted sweater.

Examples

Prefiero las camisas de manga corta en verano.

I prefer short-sleeved shirts in the summer.

Tienes una mancha en la manga de la chaqueta.

You have a stain on your jacket sleeve.

Gender of Clothing Parts

When talking about clothes, 'manga' is feminine. You should always use 'la' or 'una' with it.

Mixing up Gender

Mistake: “El manga de mi camisa.”

Correction: La manga de mi camisa.

brazo

BRAH-soh/ˈbɾaθo/

nounA1general
Use 'brazo' to refer to the actual limb of the body, although it can sometimes informally refer to a garment's sleeve, 'manga' is preferred in this context.
A simple illustration of a bare, slightly bent human arm extending from the shoulder, emphasizing the limb.

Examples

Me duele el brazo después de cargar las cajas.

My arm hurts after carrying the boxes.

Ella cruzó los brazos cuando se enojó.

She crossed her arms when she got angry.

Mi bebé solo quiere estar en mis brazos.

My baby only wants to be in my arms.

Use with Articles

When talking about your own body parts, Spanish usually uses 'el/la/los/las' instead of 'mi/tu' (my/your). Example: 'Me duele el brazo' (My arm hurts).

Confusing Brazo and Mano

Mistake: “Using 'brazo' when referring specifically to the hand.”

Correction: 'Brazo' is the entire limb from shoulder to wrist; 'mano' is the hand.

camisa

/ka-MEE-sa//kaˈmisa/

nounB2technical
Use 'camisa' specifically when referring to a tubular lining or component within a machine or piece of equipment, not for clothing.
A cross-section view of a metallic cylindrical protective outer layer surrounding an internal mechanical component.

Examples

Tuvimos que reemplazar la camisa del cilindro debido al desgaste.

We had to replace the cylinder liner due to wear.

La camisa de la tubería protege contra la corrosión.

The casing of the pipe protects against corrosion.

Technical Usage

This meaning is figurative, extending the idea of a 'shirt' as a covering or protective layer. It is mostly found in professional fields like mechanics or construction.

Confusing 'manga' and 'brazo' for sleeves

Learners often mistakenly use 'brazo' when referring to a clothing sleeve. Remember that 'brazo' means the physical arm, while 'manga' is the correct term for the sleeve of a garment.

Related Translations

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