Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Scissors in Spanish: Tijeras
Tijeras · noun (feminine, usually plural) · tee-HEH-rahs
Scissors in Spanish is tijeras (feminine, plural). Like English, the word is typically plural because the tool has two blades. You may hear the singular tijera when referring to one pair. The verb to cut with scissors is cortar con tijeras or tijeretear.
tee-HEH-rahs — three syllables. The j produces the Spanish h sound.
Pásame las tijeras para cortar el papel.
Pass me the scissors to cut the paper.
Scissors in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for scissors, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| tijeras | scissors | tee-HEH-rahs | Default, widely understood |
| tijera | scissors | singular form, one pair of scissors |
How Native Speakers Use Tijeras
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Craft or office use
¿Dónde están las tijeras? Necesito cortar esta cinta.
Where are the scissors? I need to cut this ribbon.
Las tijeras (plural with article) is the most natural way to refer to the tool.
Hairdresser context
La peluquera usa tijeras especiales para degrafilar el cabello.
The hairdresser uses special scissors to thin out the hair.
Professional scissors in hairdressing have specific vocabulary.
Children's activity
Los niños están aprendiendo a usar las tijeras en clase.
The children are learning to use scissors in class.
Tijeras de punta redonda (round-tip scissors) are specified for children.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Tijeras
Using cisores or similar English calque
Incorrect: Dame los cisores.
Correct: Dame las tijeras.
There is no word like cisores in Spanish. Scissors = tijeras.
Wrong gender with singular
Incorrect: El tijera está en el cajón.
Correct: La tijera está en el cajón.
Tijera is feminine: la tijera, las tijeras. The article must be feminine regardless of singular or plural.
Lock in Scissors Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Tijeras used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using tijeras in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Pásame las tijeras para cortar el papel. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Scissors in Spanish
- How do you say scissors in Spanish?
- Scissors is tijeras (plural) or tijera (singular) in Spanish. Both are feminine: las tijeras, la tijera.
- Is tijeras always plural?
- Usually yes, like English scissors. The singular tijera exists and is occasionally used, but las tijeras is far more natural in everyday speech.
- How do you say to cut with scissors in Spanish?
- Cortar con tijeras. There is also the verb tijeretear, which means to snip or cut repeatedly with scissors.