colet
/koˈlet/Chile, masculine
In Spanish, 'hair tie' is colet. Wiktionary also lists colita and goma.
Meaning: circular piece of elastic (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| colet | /koˈlet/ | Chile, masculine |
| colita | /koˈlita/ | Argentina, Colombia, feminine |
| goma | /ˈɡoma/ | Spain, feminine |
| liga | /ˈliɡa/ | Mexico, feminine |
The term refers to a circular piece of elastic.
Which one should you use?
In Chile, you use colet, in Argentina and Colombia you use colita, in Spain the word is goma and in Mexico it is liga.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Specific regional terms include colet in Chile, colita in Argentina and Colombia, goma in Spain and liga in Mexico.
How does it change in a sentence?
colet is a masculine noun, while colita, goma and liga are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/koˈlet/
Did you know?
- The Mexican term liga is derived from the verb ligar, which means 'to tie' or 'to bind'. In a completely different social context, ligar is also common slang for flirting.
- In Spain, the word goma is used for both hair ties and rubber bands. It comes from the Ancient Greek word for 'gum' or 'resin'.
- While colita is a common term for a hair tie in Argentina and Colombia, in other countries it refers to the hairstyle itself instead of the elastic tool.
Examples in context
- ¿Dónde puedo encontrar un coletero?Where can I find a hair tie?
- ¿Tienes una goma para sujetarme el pelo?Do you have a hair tie to hold my hair?
- Necesito una colita para mantener mi cabello en su lugar.I need a hair tie to keep my hair in place.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are getting ready to exercise.
- DanielElena, ¿tienes un colet que me prestes?Elena, do you have a hair tie I can borrow?
- ElenaSí, Daniel, tengo uno en mi bolso.Yes, Daniel, I have one in my bag.
- DanielMuchas gracias, el mío se perdió.Thank you very much, I lost mine.
- ElenaDe nada, aquí tienes el colet.You're welcome, here is the hair tie.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hair tie” translations and entries colet, colita, goma, liga, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries colita, goma, liga, CC BY-SA 4.0.
