Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| guijarro | /ɡiˈxaro/ | masculine |
| canto | /ˈkanto/ | masculine |
| canto pelado | /kanto pelado/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| canto rodado | /kanto ɾodado/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| callao | /kaˈʝao/ | masculine |
| codón | /koˈdon/ | masculine |
| ripio | /ˈripjo/ | masculine |
| morro | /ˈmoro/ | masculine |
| china | /ˈt͡ʃina/ | feminine |
| guija | /ˈɡixa/ | feminine |
| chino | /ˈt͡ʃino/ | masculine |
| chinarro | /t͡ʃinaro/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
While guijarro is a general term for a pebble, other words may be used depending on the specific shape, size or location of the stone. For example, if you are describing the act of paving a surface with stones or pebbles, you would use the verb empedrar.
Which one should you use?
guijarro is a general term for a pebble. In contrast, canto rodado specifically refers to a rounded stone, such as a water-worn pebble found in a river (río) or on a beach (playa).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, china is a common way to refer to a small pebble, particularly one that might get stuck in a shoe. In some Spanish-speaking countries, such as Mexico and parts of South America, the word grava may be used to refer to larger pebbles or gravel. In these regions, grava is also the word for gravel. Some of the other forms provided include canto, canto pelado, callao, codón, ripio, morro, guija, chino and chinarro.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms guijarro, canto, canto pelado, canto rodado, callao, codón, ripio, morro, chino and chinarro are masculine nouns. The forms china and guija are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡiˈxaro/
Did you know?
- The word morro can refer to a pebble or a small hill, but it is also the common Spanish word for a 'snout' or 'muzzle' of an animal.
- The word canto is a homonym in Spanish, meaning both a pebble and a 'song' or 'chant', coming from two entirely different Latin roots.
- The word pelado in canto pelado literally means 'peeled' or 'bald', referring to a stone that has been stripped of its outer layer by erosion.
Examples in context
- Se me ha metido una china en el zapato.I have a pebble in my shoe.This sentence is useful for describing a pebble in a shoe using the feminine form china.Tatoeba #2258775 by cueyayotl, translation #2258774 by _undertoad
- Yanni encontró un guijarro bajo su cama.Yanni found a pebble under his bed.This sentence shows the use of guijarro to describe finding a pebble.Tatoeba #10077143 by manufrutos, translation #10076048 by Amastan
- Tom tiró un guijarro a la ventana del dormitorio de Mary.Tom threw a pebble at Mary's bedroom window.This sentence demonstrates the use of guijarro in the context of throwing a stone.Tatoeba #10211672 by manufrutos, translation #10141652 by ddnktr
- Tomé una piedra del río para lanzarla al agua.I took a pebble from the river to throw it into the water.
- Los niños están jugando con los guijarros en la playa.The children are playing with the pebbles on the beach.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Walking along the beach.
- MaríaMira este guijarro tan liso, Mateo.Look at this very smooth pebble, Mateo.
- MateoEs muy bonito, María.It is very beautiful, María.
- María¿Quieres que lo guarde?Do you want me to keep it?
- MateoSí, guárdalo en tu bolsillo.Yes, keep it in your pocket.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pebble” translations and entries guijarro, canto, callao, codón, ripio, morro, china, guija, chino, 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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
