Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Lace in Spanish: Encaje
Encaje · noun · ehn-KAH-heh
Encaje is the Spanish word for lace, an ornamental fabric made by weaving threads into intricate patterns.
ehn-KAH-heh
El vestido de novia tenía detalles de encaje.
The wedding dress had lace details.
Lace in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for lace, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| encaje | lace | ehn-KAH-heh | Default, widely understood |
| cordón | lace | shoelace context | |
| puntilla | lace | decorative lace trim |
How Native Speakers Use Encaje
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Fashion description
La blusa de encaje blanco es muy elegante.
The white lace blouse is very elegant.
Describing a clothing item.
Craft activity
Mi abuela me enseñó a hacer encaje a mano.
My grandmother taught me to make lace by hand.
Discussing a traditional handicraft.
Home decor
Puso un mantel de encaje sobre la mesa.
She placed a lace tablecloth on the table.
Describing table decoration.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Encaje
Using encaje for shoelace
Incorrect: Átate los encajes de los zapatos.
Correct: Átate los cordones de los zapatos.
Encaje refers to the decorative fabric — for shoelaces, use cordones or agujetas (Mexico).
Wrong gender
Incorrect: La encaje es hermosa.
Correct: El encaje es hermoso.
Encaje is a masculine noun, so it takes the article el and masculine adjective forms.
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See Encaje used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Lace in Spanish
- How do you say 'lace' in Spanish?
- The word for decorative lace fabric is encaje — for shoelaces, the correct term is cordones or agujetas depending on the region.
- Is encaje masculine or feminine?
- Encaje is masculine despite ending in -e, so it takes the article el — for example, el encaje fino means fine lace.
- What is the difference between encaje and puntilla?
- Encaje is the general term for any lace fabric, while puntilla specifically refers to narrow lace trim or edging used as a decorative border on garments or linens.