Spanish word

toalla

Pronunciation

IPA/toˈaʝa/

Meaning

  • feminine nountowel

Example

¿Tienes una toalla limpia?

Do you have a clean towel?

Illustration for toalla (towel)

More examples

Después de nadar, seca la piel con una toalla de playa.

After swimming, dry your skin with a beach towel.

Core concept

A soft absorbent cloth for drying skin or hair.

Common phrases

  • toalla de baño

    bath towel

  • toalla de mano

    hand towel

  • toalla limpia

    clean towel

Similar words

pañuelo: Small cloth or paper for wiping or blowing the nose and cleaning the face.
toallita: Small, soft towel-like wipe for drying or cleaning hands and face, often disposable.
servilleta: Paper or fabric napkin used at meals to wipe the mouth and hands.

Definition in Spanish

Tejido absorbente usado para quitar la humedad de la piel, el cabello o de objetos mojados.

Word origin

From Late Latin tela 'cloth' via Old French toaille, originally a woven fabric that developed into Spanish toalla with the sense of a drying cloth.

Usage tips

  • The noun is feminine (la toalla), and a common conversational phrase to borrow one is ¿Me prestas una toalla?

Related words

  • toallitasmall towelnoun
  • toallerotowel racknoun
  • toallónlarge towelnoun

Word lists with this word