rímel
/ˈrimel/masculine
In Spanish, mascara is rímel. Wiktionary also lists máscara de pestañas and pestañina.
Meaning: eyelash cosmetic (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| rímel | /ˈrimel/ | masculine |
| máscara de pestañas | /ˌmaskaɾa de pesˈtaɲas/ | feminine |
| pestañina | /pestaˈɲina/ | Colombia, feminine |
The terms are used to refer to the eyelash cosmetic.
Which one should you use?
The term rímel is a masculine noun, whereas máscara de pestañas is feminine.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, Rímel or rímmel are widely used. In Argentina, you may hear pintura de pestañas. In Colombia, Rimel is commonly used, as is the word pestañina.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈrimel/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the feminine article la with rímel. Instead, you should use the masculine el rímel.
Did you know?
- The common term rímel is actually a brand name that became a generic noun, much like how English speakers use 'kleenex' for tissues.
- While máscara usually refers to a disguise used in a carnival or a play, it is also the formal term for the cosmetic on your eyelashes.
- The term pintura de pestañas literally translates to 'eyelash painting', treating the application of mascara as an act of painting.
Examples in context
- Ella sabía que si empezaba a llorar se le correría el rímel.She knew that if she started to cry her mascara would run.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the form rímel when describing mascara running.Tatoeba #640309 by Shishir, translation #639401 by darinmex
- Me gusta el rímel que compré en la tienda de cosméticos.I like the mascara I bought at the cosmetics store.
- Necesito comprar un rímel nuevo.I need to buy a new mascara.
- El rímel no es resistente al agua.The mascara is not waterproof.
Example conversation
María is getting ready for a party in the living room.
- Javier¿Dónde dejaste tu rímel, María?Where did you leave your mascara, María?
- MaríaEstá en el bolso sobre la mesa.It is in the bag on the table.
- JavierBúscalo bien para que termines pronto.Look for it well so you can finish soon.
- MaríaYa lo tengo, ya casi estoy lista.I have it, I am almost ready.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mascara” translations and entries rímel, máscara de pestañas, pestañina, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, máscara, pestañina, rímel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
