ropa sucia
/ropa suθja/from spelling rules
In Spanish, dirty laundry is ropa sucia.
The term refers to laundry that is unclean or soiled.
Meaning: laundry that is unclean or soiled (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ropa (clothing) and sucia (dirty).
Which one should you use?
Ropa sucia is the standard way to refer to laundry as a collective concept. In contrast, ropas sucias can be used when referring to specific individual items of dirty clothing.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Regional variations include ropa cochambrosa in parts of Spain such as Andalusia. In Mexico, ropa sucia is often replaced by the informal terms ropa mugrosa or ropa cochina. In Argentina, you may hear the informal ropa mugrienta used in certain contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective sucia must agree in gender and number with the noun ropa. Since ropa is feminine singular, the adjective is also feminine singular.
How do you pronounce it?
/ropa suθja/
Did you know?
- While English speakers use 'dirty laundry' as a metaphor for private secrets, Spanish speakers use the exact same phrase, ropa sucia, to describe scandalous personal matters.
- In Mexico, the term ropa cochina can be used for laundry, but cochino is also the standard word for a pig.
- The word ropa originally comes from a Gothic term meaning 'to pluck' or 'to tear', referring to how fabric was stripped from looms.
Examples in context
- Por favor, lave mi ropa suciaPlease wash my dirty laundry
- No dejes tu ropa sucia en el sueloDon't leave your dirty laundry on the floor
- Lávate la ropa mugrosaWash your filthy laundry
- Deberías lavar tu ropa cochinaYou should wash your dirty laundry
- Tengo que lavar la ropa sucia.I have to wash the dirty laundry.
- Tengo mucha ropa sucia en la canasta.I have a lot of dirty laundry in the basket.
- No mezcles la ropa sucia con la limpia.Don't mix the dirty laundry with the clean clothes.
- Ella puso la ropa sucia en la lavadora.She put the dirty laundry in the washing machine.
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are tidying up their apartment.
- Mateo¿Dónde pusiste la ropa sucia, Elena?Where did you put the dirty laundry, Elena?
- ElenaEstá en el cesto del baño.It is in the bathroom basket.
- MateoVoy a recoger toda la ropa sucia ahora.I am going to pick up all the dirty laundry now.
- ElenaGracias, Mateo, eres muy amable.Thanks, Mateo, you are very kind.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
