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colilla

cigarette butt

noun koh-LEE-yah Rare
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Usage Note

Colilla is a diminutive of cola ('tail'), describing the small remaining end of a smoked cigarette. It is one of the most commonly littered items in Spanish-speaking cities, and appears frequently in anti-littering campaigns. Do not confuse colilla with coleta ('ponytail') or colegiala ('schoolgirl') — the shared col- root simply reflects Latin cauda ('tail').

Examples

"Tiró la colilla al suelo en plena calle."

Natural Translation

She threw the cigarette butt on the street.

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