regazo
/reˈɡaθo/masculine
The English word 'lap' (referring to the upper legs of a seated person) is translated into Spanish as regazo. Wiktionary also lists falda.
Meaning: upper legs of a seated person (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| regazo | /reˈɡaθo/ /reˈɡaso/ |
masculine |
| falda | /ˈfalda/ | feminine |
The term refers to the area of the upper legs when a person is sitting down. Related verbs like lengüetear, langüetear or lambiscar can be used when referring to taking liquid into the mouth with the tongue, while in the context of motor racing, the phrase doblar or sacar una vuelta a (or sacar vueltas a) can mean to overtake a straggler in a race.
Which one should you use?
While regazo is the precise anatomical term for lap, falda (which literally means skirt) is very commonly used in colloquial speech to refer to someone's lap.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/reˈɡaθo/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word falda also refers to the 'slope' or 'foot' of a mountain.
- The word falda likely entered the Spanish language from a Germanic source, such as Frankish, rather than originating from Latin.
- While regazo is the precise term for 'lap', it often carries a strong literary or emotional connotation of protection and tenderness.
Examples in context
- El niño durmió en el regazo de su madre.The child slept on its mother's lap.This sentence is useful for describing a child sleeping on a mother's regazo.Tatoeba #3000737 by marcelostockle, translation #245677 by CK
- El niño estaba durmiendo en el regazo de su madre.The child was sleeping on its mothers lap.Tatoeba #1723317 by teskmon, translation #245678 by CM
- El niño se sentó en el regazo de su madre y escuchaba la historia.The child sat on his mother's lap and listened to the story.This sentence is useful for describing a child sitting on a mother's regazo to listen to a story.Tatoeba #1292138 by hayastan, translation #245636 by CM
- El niño se sentó en el regazo de su madre.The child sat on his mother's lap.
- Me encanta sentarme en tus piernas mientras vemos la televisión.I love sitting on your lap while we watch TV.
Example conversation
Maria is holding a sleeping baby while talking to Alejandro.
- MaríaEl bebé se quedó dormido en mi regazo.The baby fell asleep in my lap.
- AlejandroSe ve muy tranquilo así.He looks very peaceful like that.
- MaríaNo quiero moverme para no despertarlo.I don't want to move so I don't wake him up.
- AlejandroYo te traigo un vaso de agua.I will bring you a glass of water.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lap” translations and entries regazo, falda, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries falda, regazo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
