Spanish word

horquilla

Pronunciation

IPA/oɾˈkiʝa/

Meaning

  • feminine nounhair clip

Example

Me puse una horquilla en el pelo.

I put a hair clip in my hair.

Illustration for horquilla (hair clip)

More examples

Sujeta el flequillo con una horquilla para que no moleste.

Hold your bangs in place with a hair clip so they don't bother you.

Core concept

Thin U-shaped pin pushed into hair to hold a small section.

Common phrases

  • usar una horquilla

    use a hair clip

  • sujetar con una horquilla

    hold in place with a hair clip

Similar words

pinza: Clip with two hinged or springy pieces that close to grip hair firmly.
coletero: Circular elastic band that wraps around hair to fasten a ponytail.
pasador: Long narrow pin that anchors styles like buns or twists by sliding into hair.
lazo: Soft fabric ribbon that forms a bow to decorate and help secure hair.

Definition in Spanish

Objeto pequeño para fijar el cabello; suele ser delgado y se introduce entre los cabellos para mantenerlos en su sitio.

Word origin

The word comes from Spanish horca 'fork' plus the diminutive -illa, literally 'little fork', and was applied to a small two-pronged hair pin.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Spanish horquilla can refer to various forked objects as well as hair pins, and sellers often distinguish U-shaped horquillas from clip-style items called pinzas para el pelo.

Other meanings

  • bobby pinnoun
  • hairpinnoun

Word lists with this word