rastas
/ˈrastas/feminine, plural
The English phrase "dreadlocks" is translated into Spanish as rastas. Wiktionary also lists trenzas africanas.
Meaning: hairstyle in which the hair is left to grow long, and twisted into long matted strings (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| rastas | /ˈrastas/ | feminine, plural |
| trenzas africanas | /tɾenθas afɾikanas/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /tɾensas afɾikanas/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine, plural |
The term refers to a hairstyle where the hair is left to grow long and is twisted into long, matted strings.
Which one should you use?
While rastas refers specifically to dreadlocks, you should use trenzas africanas to refer to braided hairstyles, as these are distinct from the matted texture of dreadlocks.
How does it change in a sentence?
rastas is a feminine plural noun. To say that someone wears or has dreadlocks, use the verb llevar (to wear) with rastas, for example, llevar rastas.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈrastas/
Did you know?
- The word rastas is a direct loanword derived from 'Rastafari', the religious and political movement from Jamaica. It describes not just a hairstyle but a cultural identity linked to the movement.
- In some Spanish speaking regions, the word rastas can be used colloquially to describe anything that looks like tangled strings or rope, even if it is not hair.
- In some Latin American contexts, calling someone a rastas might be used colloquially to describe someone with a specific 'bohemian' or 'rebel' aesthetic, rather than just describing their hair.
Examples in context
- Me encanta tu peinado con rastas, ¿cómo te las haces?I love your dreadlock hairstyle, how do you make them?
- ¿Sabes dónde puedo encontrar un buen lugar para hacerme trenzas de rastas en esta ciudad?Do you know where I can find a good place to get dreadlock braids in this city?
- ¡Quiero tener rastas como Bob Marley!I want to have dreadlocks like Bob Marley!
- Ella lleva unas rastas muy largas.She wears very long dreadlocks.
- Él se hizo unas rastas este verano.He got dreadlocks this summer.
- Esas rastas se ven muy bien.Those dreadlocks look very good.
Example conversation
Daniel and María are talking about a new haircut.
- DanielMira, María, me hice rastas ayer.Look, María, I got dreadlocks yesterday.
- María¡Qué bien te quedan las rastas, Daniel!The dreadlocks look great on you, Daniel!
- DanielGracias, me costó mucho tiempo hacerlas.Thanks, it took me a long time to make them.
- MaríaValió la pena el esfuerzo.The effort was worth it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dreadlocks” translations and entries rastas, 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.
