ropa
/ˈropa/feminine
The Spanish word for clothes is ropa. If unsure, use ropa. Wiktionary also lists trapos.
Meaning: apparel (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ropa | /ˈropa/ | feminine |
| trapos | /tɾapos/ (from spelling rules) | derogatory, masculine, plural |
The standard word for apparel is ropa. In formal or professional written contexts, you may also encounter the term indumentaria.
Which one should you use?
While ropa is the standard term, trapos is used derogatorily to describe clothing that is of poor quality or resembles rags.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina and Uruguay, the colloquial term pilchas is used to refer to clothes or garments. In Spain, the plural form ropas is rarely used, as ropa is preferred.
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike the English word 'clothes', which is plural, ropa is a singular mass noun. It is used with singular articles and singular verbs.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈropa/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Because 'clothes' is plural in English, speakers often mistakenly pluralize the Spanish word to ropas. You should keep ropa in its singular form.
Did you know?
- In a culinary context, ropa vieja literally translates to 'old clothes' but is actually a famous slow-cooked shredded beef dish.
- The term ropa is actually a linguistic survivor from the Gothic language, making it a Germanic loanword in the Romance-based Spanish.
- A person might say they are 'estrenar la ropa' to describe the specific joy of wearing a brand new outfit for the first time.
Examples in context
- No coso su ropa.I don't sew their clothes.This sentence shows how to use ropa in a negative statement regarding sewing.Tatoeba #5908802 by albrusgher, translation #5200718 by AlanF_US
- Mi ropa esta ahí.My clothes are there.This sentence demonstrates the use of ropa to indicate location.Tatoeba #2090061 by Shishir, translation #1635411 by Amastan
- Me gusta la ropa.I like clothes.This sentence shows a simple expression of preference using ropa.Tatoeba #4482700 by cueyayotl, translation #3713724 by galiana
- Necesito comprar ropa nuevaI need to buy new clothes
- Indumentaria formal requeridaFormal attire required
- Me encanta comprar prendas de vestir nuevasI love buying new clothes
- Me encanta la vestimenta que llevasI love the clothes you're wearing
- 333 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and María are packing for a trip.
- Mateo¿Ya empacaste tu ropa, María?Did you already pack your clothes, María?
- MaríaSí, pero necesito más ropa de invierno.Yes, but I need more winter clothes.
- MateoYo también llevo ropa abrigada.I am also bringing warm clothes.
- MaríaPerfecto, entonces ya estamos listos.Perfect, then we are all set.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “clothes” translations and entries ropa, trapos, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ropa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
