bolsa de plástico
/bolsa de plastiko/from spelling rulesfeminine
The English phrase "plastic bag" is bolsa de plástico in Spanish. Wiktionary also lists bolsa plástica.
Meaning: type of packaging (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bolsa de plástico | /bolsa de plastiko/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| bolsa plástica | /bolsa plastika/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
Both forms refer to a type of packaging made from plastic material.
Which one should you use?
The form bolsa de plástico uses a prepositional phrase to indicate the material and is the most common way to express this in Spanish. The form bolsa plástica uses an adjective to describe the bag. While both are understood, bolsa de plástico is more frequently used in everyday speech.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, you must change the noun bolsa to bolsas while the material plástico remains singular, resulting in bolsas de plástico.
Did you know?
- While 'bolsa' usually means a bag, in a financial context, la bolsa refers to 'the stock market'.
- If you are in a grocery store in Spain, you might hear the term bolsa, but in some Latin American countries, you might also hear people refer to them as desechables if they are single-use.
- The word bolsa is a linguistic cousin to the English word 'purse', as both descend from the same Latin root 'bursa'.
Examples in context
- ¿Desea una bolsa de plástico o de papel?Would you like a plastic bag or a paper bag?This sentence is useful for offering a choice between a bolsa de plástico or a paper bag.Tatoeba #2361087 by marcelostockle, translation #689905 by ulyssemc1
- El dieciocho de mayo, una joven pareja japonesa fue arrestada después de que su hijo de un año fuera encontrado envuelto en una bolsa de plástico y metido en una alcantarilla.On May 18, a young Japanese couple was arrested after their one-year-old baby was found wrapped in a plastic bag and dumped in a gutter.This sentence provides a context for the use of a bolsa de plástico even in a news-style report.Tatoeba #1119803 by Shishir, translation #2269 by darinmex
- Pongo todas mis pertenencias en una bolsa de plástico.I put all my belongings in a plastic bag.This sentence shows how to use bolsa de plástico when referring to storing belongings.Tatoeba #739129 by darinmex, translation #689885 by ulyssemc1
- Cuando vayas al supermercado, no olvides llevar tus propias bolsas reutilizables para evitar el uso de bolsas de plástico.When you go to the supermarket, don't forget to bring your own reusable bags to avoid the use of plastic bags.
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are checking out at a grocery store.
- ElenaMateo, ¿necesitas una bolsa de plástico?Mateo, do you need a plastic bag?
- MateoNo, gracias. Traje mi propia bolsa.No, thank you. I brought my own bag.
- ElenaPerfecto, así ahorramos una bolsa de plástico.Perfect, that way we save a plastic bag.
- MateoSí, es mejor para el medio ambiente.Yes, it is better for the environment.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “plastic bag” translations, 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.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bolsa, de, plástico, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
