pajita
/paˈxita/
In Spanish, a drinking straw is called pajita.
A drinking straw refers to a thin tube used for sucking a liquid out of a glass or container.
What does it mean word for word?
The word pajita is a diminutive of paja (straw), created by adding the suffix -ita to mean "little straw".
Is it said differently in some regions?
While pajita is a general term, different regions use specific words: popote is common in parts of Mexico and Central America, sorbete is more common in Argentina, pitillo is the standard term in several South American countries such as Colombia and Venezuela and cañita is used in Peru.
How does it change in a sentence?
To talk about more than one straw, use the plural form pajitas, which is formed by changing the final vowel to -as.
How do you pronounce it?
/paˈxita/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, using the word paja to refer to a drinking straw might lead to confusion, as it is also a very common slang term for 'masturbation'.
- In Mexico, the word popote is thought to derive from the Nahuatl word popotl, meaning 'reed'.
- The word sorbete in Argentina is a cognate of the English word 'sorbet', even though it is used to describe the physical straw itself.
Examples in context
- Por favor, tráigame una pajita para mi refresco.Please bring me a drinking straw for my soda.
- ¿Me puede dar una pajita, por favor?Can you give me a straw, please?
- Necesito una pajita para mi refresco.I need a drinking straw for my soda.
- La pajita es de plástico.The drinking straw is made of plastic.
- ¿Me das una pajita, por favor?Can you give me a drinking straw, please?
Example conversation
At a cafe, Sofía is drinking a smoothie.
- SofíaMateo, ¿tienes una pajita?Mateo, do you have a drinking straw?
- MateoNo, pero puedo pedir una para ti.No, but I can ask for one for you.
- SofíaGracias, es que no puedo beber sin pajita.Thanks, it's just that I can't drink without a straw.
- MateoNo hay problema, Sofía.No problem, Sofía.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pajita, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
