Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pinzas | /ˈpinθas/ /ˈpinsas/ |
feminine, plural |
| tenacillas | /tenaθiʝas/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /tenasiʝas/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine, plural |
| tenazuelas | /tenaθwelas/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /tenaswelas/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine, plural |
The term refers to various gripping instruments. While pinzas is a general term that can refer to tongs, pliers or tweezers depending on the context, you can specify kitchen tongs by saying pinzas de cocina. Note that tenazas can also be used to refer to similar utensils like pliers.
Which one should you use?
The word pinzas is a general term, whereas tenacillas is typically used for smaller, more delicate versions of tongs, such as tweezers. The term tenazuelas is also a form for these instruments.
How does it change in a sentence?
All forms provided are feminine plural nouns. Because pinzas is a feminine plural noun, it requires feminine plural articles and adjectives, such as las pinzas. Although English uses the plural 'tongs' for a single tool, in Spanish you can use the singular form pinza to refer to one tool.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpinθas/
Did you know?
- The word pinzas is used in fashion to describe the darts in a garment that shape the fabric to the body.
- While pinzas is used for tools, the verb pinzar can be used in music to describe the act of plucking a string on a guitar.
- In Spanish, the word pinza is also used to describe a clothespin, which is called a pinza de ropa.
Examples in context
- Sujétalo con esas pinzas.Hold it with those tongs.This sentence shows how to use pinzas to specify the tool being used to hold something.Tatoeba #8612581 by arh, translation #9189546 by DJ_Saidez
- Por favor, trae las pinzas para la barbacoaPlease bring the tongs for the barbecue
- Usa las tenazas para sujetar el carbónUse the tongs to hold the charcoal
- Pásame las pinzas, por favorPass me the tongs, please
- ¡Qué bien cocinas con esas pinzas de barbacoa!You cook so well with those barbecue tongs!
- Necesito unas pinzas para agarrar el hielo sin tocarloI need some tongs to handle the ice without touching it
- Usa las pinzas de la parrilla para voltear la carneUse the grill tongs to flip the meat
- Voy a usar las pinzas para sacar las galletas del hornoI'm going to use the tongs to take out the cookies from the oven
- ¿Sabes cómo se usan estas pinzas?Do you know how to use these tongs?
- ¿Cómo se llaman las pinzas aquí?What are tongs called here?
- ¿Qué palabra usas para referirte a las pinzas de la barbacoa?What word do you use to refer to barbecue tongs?
- Necesito unas pinzas para la cocina.I need some tongs for the kitchen.
- Usa las pinzas para sacar el hielo.Use the tongs to take out the ice.
Example conversation
Javier and María are preparing a barbecue in the garden.
- Javier¿Tienes unas pinzas para la carne?Do you have some tongs for the meat?
- MaríaSí, las pinzas están sobre la mesa.Yes, the tongs are on the table.
- JavierGracias, pásamelas cuando puedas.Thanks, pass them to me when you can.
- MaríaToma, aquí tienes las pinzas, Javier.Here, here are the tongs, Javier.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tongs” translations and entries pinzas, tenacillas, 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.
