Inklingo

How to Say "taper" in Spanish

English → Spanish

vela

VAY-lahˈbe.la

nounA1general
Use 'vela' when referring to a thin candle used for light, especially in situations without electricity.
A single, white candle with a bright yellow flame burning brightly against a dark background.

Examples

En la oscuridad, encendimos una vela para ver.

In the darkness, we lit a candle to see.

Puso tres velas en el pastel de cumpleaños.

She put three candles on the birthday cake.

Gender Check

Remember that 'vela' is feminine, so you must use 'la vela' or 'una vela' (the candle, a candle).

cerilla

seh-ree-yahθeˈɾiʎa

nounA1general
Use 'cerilla' specifically for a thin wax candle or wick, often implying a smaller or more basic form than a standard 'vela'. It can also refer to a matchstick, which is a common confusion.
A single wooden match with a bright red tip.

Examples

¿Tienes una cerilla para encender la vela?

Do you have a match to light the candle?

Guardó las cerillas en un lugar seco para que no se estropearan.

He kept the matches in a dry place so they wouldn't get ruined.

Raspa la cerilla contra la caja con cuidado.

Strike the match against the box carefully.

Always Feminine

Even though it refers to an object, 'cerilla' is always feminine. You must use 'la' or 'una' with it.

Easy Plural

To talk about more than one, just add an 's' to the end: 'las cerillas'.

Using the wrong word in Latin America

Mistake: “Using 'cerilla' in a Mexican supermarket to ask for matches.”

Correction: Use 'fósforo' instead. While they will understand 'cerilla', it sounds very European to them.

Vela vs. Cerilla

The most common confusion is between 'vela' (candle) and 'cerilla' (small candle/wick or matchstick). While 'vela' is generally used for any candle, 'cerilla' can refer to a very small, thin candle or, more commonly, a matchstick used to light things. Be careful not to use 'cerilla' when you simply mean 'candle'.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.