Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Skirt in Spanish: Falda, Pollera, and Regional Variations
Falda · noun · FAHL-dah
Skirt in Spanish is falda in most of the Spanish-speaking world. In Argentina and Uruguay, the everyday word is pollera. Both refer to the same garment, but using the wrong one can mark you as an outsider.
Two syllables: FAHL-dah. The stress is on the first syllable. Both vowels are open a sounds.
Esa falda roja te queda muy bien.
That red skirt looks great on you.
Skirt in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for skirt, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| falda | skirt | FAHL-dah | Default, widely understood |
| pollera | skirt | Argentina, Uruguay, and parts of the Southern Cone | |
| enagua | skirt | Central America (Costa Rica, Nicaragua) |
How Native Speakers Use Falda
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Shopping for clothing
Estoy buscando una falda larga para la boda.
I'm looking for a long skirt for the wedding.
Falda is understood everywhere, making it a safe default when shopping.
Using the Argentine term
En Buenos Aires, las chicas dicen pollera, no falda.
In Buenos Aires, girls say pollera, not falda.
Pollera is the dominant term in Argentina and Uruguay; using falda there sounds bookish.
Describing a school uniform
El uniforme del colegio incluye una falda gris y una blusa blanca.
The school uniform includes a gray skirt and a white blouse.
School-uniform contexts are very common for this word across Latin America and Spain.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Falda
Using falda to mean lap
Incorrect: El gato se sentó en mi falda. (meaning lap, in some regions)
Correct: El gato se sentó en mi regazo.
In some regions falda can informally mean lap, but regazo is the unambiguous, standard term. Using falda for lap may confuse listeners who only associate it with the garment.
Assuming pollera is understood everywhere
Incorrect: ¿Dónde compraste esa pollera? (in Mexico or Spain)
Correct: ¿Dónde compraste esa falda?
Pollera is specific to Argentina, Uruguay, and nearby areas. In Mexico or Spain, people may not immediately recognize it as meaning skirt.
Lock in Skirt 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 Falda used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using falda in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Esa falda roja te queda muy bien. 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 Skirt in Spanish
- How do you say skirt in Spanish?
- In most countries, skirt is falda (FAHL-dah). In Argentina and Uruguay, the everyday word is pollera (poh-YEH-rah).
- What is the difference between falda and pollera?
- They mean the same thing — skirt. Falda is used in Spain, Mexico, Colombia, and most of Latin America. Pollera is the standard term in Argentina, Uruguay, and parts of Chile, Bolivia, and Paraguay.
- How do you say 'miniskirt' in Spanish?
- A miniskirt is minifalda. In Argentina, you may also hear minipollera, though minifalda is understood everywhere.