toalla
/toˈaʝa/feminine
The Spanish word for towel is toalla. It is also spelled toballa or tobaja. Wiktionary also lists fazaleja.
Meaning: cloth used for wiping (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| toalla | /toˈaʝa/ | feminine |
| toballa | /tobaʝa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine, alternative form |
| tobaja | /toˈbaxa/ | feminine, alternative form |
| fazaleja | /faθalexa/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /fasalexa/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
A toalla is a cloth used for wiping. You can specify the type of towel by adding 'de' followed by the purpose: use toalla de playa for a beach towel or toalla de manos for a hand towel.
Which one should you use?
toballa and tobaja are alternative spellings of toalla.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is a feminine noun. The plural form is las toallas.
How do you pronounce it?
/toˈaʝa/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Because 'towel' has no gender in English, speakers often mistakenly use the masculine article el instead of the feminine la.
Did you know?
- The word toalla is a distant relative of the English word 'wash'. Both share an ancestor in the Germanic word *þwahilu.
- The modern word toalla actually replaced older versions like tobaja and fazaleja in most Spanish-speaking regions.
- The word tobaja is an archaic variant of toalla that reveals how the Spanish 'll' sound evolved over centuries.
Examples in context
- No tires la toalla.Don't throw in the towel.This sentence uses toalla in an idiomatic expression about giving up.Tatoeba #1272433 by marcelostockle, translation #241202 by CK
- Sólo hay una toalla.There is only one bath towel.This sentence uses toalla to indicate the quantity of a bath towel.Tatoeba #920990 by Shishir, translation #539026 by CK
- Tom estrujó la toalla.Tom wrung out the towel.This sentence uses toalla to describe the action of wringing out a towel.Tatoeba #1247979 by marcelostockle, translation #1092173 by CK
- Me podría alcanzar un toallón, por favor?Could you hand me a large towel, please?
- ¿Podría darme una toallita para secarme las manos?Could you give me a hand towel to dry my hands?
- Necesito un toallón grande para secarme.I need a big towel to dry myself.
- ¿Podrías darme una toallita, por favor?Could you give me a small towel, please?
- ¿Me pasarías un toallón, por favor?Could you pass me a large towel, please?
- ¿Podría pedir un par de toallas adicionales para la habitación, por favor?Could I request a couple of extra towels for the room, please?
- 68 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are at the swimming pool.
- Mateo¿Tienes una toalla para mí?Do you have a towel for me?
- LucíaSí, tengo una toalla limpia.Yes, I have a clean towel.
- MateoGracias, Lucía.Thanks, Lucía.
- LucíaDe nada, Mateo.You're welcome, Mateo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “towel” translations and entries toalla, toballa, tobaja, fazaleja, 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 toalla, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
