Spanish word

mascarilla

Pronunciation

IPA/maskaˈɾiʝa/

Meaning

  • feminine nounmask

Example

Ella dejó su mascarilla en la mesa.

She left her mask on the table.

Illustration for mascarilla (mask)

More examples

Por favor, ponte la mascarilla antes de entrar al hospital.

Please put on your mask before entering the hospital.

Core concept

Protective covering for the nose and mouth that blocks germs, dust, and droplets.

Common phrases

  • ponerse la mascarilla

    put on your mask

  • mascarilla quirúrgica

    surgical mask

  • quitarse la mascarilla

    take your mask off

Similar words

cubrebocas: Everyday nose-and-mouth covering used to lower the chance of spreading or catching infections.
barbijo: Nose-and-mouth covering common in healthcare and daily life for infection prevention.
tapabocas: Face covering placed over nose and mouth to prevent dispersal of droplets.
respirador: Filter-equipped respirator that fits snugly to the face and filters tiny aerosol particles.

Definition in Spanish

Prenda o elemento que cubre la nariz y la boca para proteger contra gérmenes, polvo o gotas, usado en contextos sanitarios y cotidianos.

Word origin

It comes from Spanish máscara plus the diminutive suffix -illa, ultimately from Italian maschera (from Latin masca), conveying the idea of a small mask.

Usage tips

  • To avoid confusion with the makeup word 'mascara', Spanish speakers often say 'mascarilla sanitaria' for medical masks or 'mascarilla facial' for cosmetic masks.

Other meanings

  • facial masknoun

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