piedra, papel o tijera
/ˌpjedɾa | paˌpel o tiˈxeɾa/
The English phrase "rock paper scissors shoot" is translated into Spanish as piedra, papel o tijera.
The individual components are piedra (rock), papel (paper) and tijera (scissors).
Which one should you use?
You may hear the variation ¡Piedra, papel o tijera, ya!
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌpjedɾa | paˌpel o tiˈxeɾa/
When do people say it?
To mimic the English "shoot!" command, Spanish speakers often add ya! (now!) at the end of the chant. You might use the phrase ¡Vamos a resolver esto a piedra, papel o tijera! to suggest settling a dispute or making a decision through the game.
Did you know?
- The Spanish word piedra shares its origin with the English word 'petrified', coming from the Latin petra and Ancient Greek πέτρᾱ.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, this game is used not just for children's play but as a legitimate way for adults to settle minor disputes or make a choice.
- While piedra, papel o tijera is standard, players in different regions may omit the o (or) and simply chant the three objects in rapid succession.
Examples in context
- Vamos a jugar piedra, papel o tijera.Let's play rock, paper, scissors.
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding who goes first in a game.
- Javier¿Quieres jugar piedra, papel o tijera?Do you want to play rock, paper, scissors?
- SofíaSí, ¡piedra, papel o tijera!Yes, rock, paper, scissors, shoot!
- Javier¡Saqué piedra!I threw rock!
- Sofía¡Y yo saqué papel! Gané yo.And I threw paper! I won.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry piedra, papel o tijera, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries o, papel, piedra, tijera, CC BY-SA 4.0.
