Spanish word

tijera

Pronunciation

IPA/tiˈxeɾa/

Meaning

  • feminine nounscissors

Example

Pásame la tijera, por favor.

Pass me the scissors, please.

Illustration for tijera (scissors)

More examples

Ten cuidado, deja las tijeras cerradas cuando no las uses.

Be careful, leave the scissors closed when you are not using them.

Core concept

Two pivoting blades joined at a central screw.

Common phrases

  • un par de tijeras

    a pair of scissors

  • tijeras escolares

    school scissors

  • tijeras para manualidades

    craft scissors

Similar words

tijeras: Two-blade cutting implement whose crossing blades pivot at a screw to slice paper or fabric.
cuchillo: Single, sharp-edged blade for cutting food and other items, used at the table or in the kitchen.
navaja: Portable folding knife with a blade that folds into the handle for small cutting tasks.
cortauñas: Tiny clipping tool with short blades made to trim nails accurately.

Definition in Spanish

Utensilio de mano formado por dos hojas pivotantes que permiten separar fibras o cortar materiales blandos al cerrarse.

Word origin

From a Late Latin/Romance noun meaning 'cutting instrument', ultimately based on a verb meaning 'to cut' and applied to the hand tool with two blades.

Usage tips

  • Spanish normally treats the item as plural, so say las tijeras or un par de tijeras for 'a pair of scissors' rather than la tijera.

Related words

  • tijeretearsnipverb
  • tijeretazomajor cutnoun

Word lists with this word