horquilla
/oɾˈkiʝa/
The English phrase 'bobby pin' is horquilla in Spanish.
A horquilla refers to a small metal pin used to hold a lock of hair in place.
What does it mean word for word?
The word horquilla is derived from the word for a small fork, referring to the shape of the object.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the word pasador can be used to refer to a bobby pin.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of horquilla is horquillas.
How do you pronounce it?
/oɾˈkiʝa/
Did you know?
- The word horquilla is a diminutive of horca, which refers to a gallows or a pitchfork. This means a bobby pin is literally named as a 'little gallows'.
- While you might use horquilla for your hair, it is also the standard term for the 'tuning fork' used by musicians to find a pitch.
- If you are a cyclist in a Spanish-speaking country, you might hear the term horquilla used to describe the front fork of the bike.
Examples in context
- ¿Puedes prestarme una horquilla?Can you lend me a bobby pin?
- Necesito sujetar mi cabello, ¿tienes una horquilla?I need to secure my hair, do you have a bobby pin?
- Encontré una horquilla en el suelo, ¿es tuya?I found a bobby pin on the floor, is it yours?
- Necesito una horquilla para sujetar este mechón.I need a bobby pin to hold this lock of hair.
- Necesito una horquilla para mi pelo.I need a bobby pin for my hair.
- ¿Dónde dejaste la horquilla negra?Where did you leave the black bobby pin?
- Esa horquilla es muy pequeña.That bobby pin is very small.
Example conversation
María is getting ready for a party and cannot find her hair accessories.
- MaríaJavier, ¿has visto mi horquilla?Javier, have you seen my bobby pin?
- JavierNo, María, no la he visto.No, María, I haven't seen it.
- MaríaEstá en la mesa de la entrada.It is on the entryway table.
- JavierAh, sí, aquí la tengo.Oh, yes, I have it here.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry horquilla, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries horquilla, CC BY-SA 4.0.
