Spanish word

teja

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈtexa/

Meaning

  • feminine nounroof tile

Example

Hay una teja rota en el tejado.

There is a broken roof tile on the roof.

Illustration for teja (roof tile)

More examples

Durante la tormenta, se movió una teja y entró agua.

During the storm, a roof tile moved and water got in.

Core concept

Individual clay or ceramic piece that overlaps others to make a roof watertight.

Common phrases

  • teja rota

    broken roof tile

  • teja suelta

    loose roof tile

  • teja de barro

    clay roof tile

Similar words

tejado: Whole roof covering a building's exterior, including slopes, ridges, and eaves.
techo: Finished interior upper surface that closes a room overhead as the ceiling.
baldosa: Hard flat tile installed on floors or pavements for walking, often made of stone or ceramic.
azulejo: Decorative glazed ceramic tile fixed to walls to protect surfaces and add ornament.

Definition in Spanish

Unidad de cubierta hecha de barro o cerámica, colocada solapada con otras para impermeabilizar el tejado.

Word origin

From Latin tegula, based on the root teg- meaning 'to cover', Spanish teja developed to name the single clay or ceramic element used in overlapping rows to waterproof a roof.

Usage tips

  • Spanish contrasts teja (one roofing tile) with tejado (the whole roof), a distinction that English speakers often miss.

Related words

  • tejadoroofnoun
  • tejarroof with tilesverb
  • tejuelasmall roof tilenoun

Word lists with this word