falda

skirt

noun FAHL-dah Rare

Origin: From Old High German falda (fold), referring to a folded garment.

Also means

hillside; lap (of a mountain)

Usage Note

Falda is the standard word for a skirt (garment). It also has a geographical sense: las faldas de la montaña (the slopes/foothills of the mountain). The expression en las faldas de alguien (on someone's lap/apron strings) implies being overly dependent on a parent or caregiver. Do not confuse with pollera, which is the dominant word for skirt in much of South America (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay).

Examples

"Llevaba una falda larga de colores vivos."

Natural Translation

She was wearing a long skirt in bright colors.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Por vs Para in Spanish: One Mental Model, No Acronyms

Por looks backward at cause and path; para looks forward at goal and destination. Master por vs para in Spanish with one mental model — no acronyms needed.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Numbers 1-100: Count, Spell & Pronounce

Spanish numbers 1 to 100 are a system, not a list: three patterns build every number. Master the spelling, the accent rule, and how to say prices fast.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Mexican Spanish Slang Every Traveler Should Know

Mexican Spanish slang decoded for travelers: what güey, mande, órale, and ahorita really mean, who you can safely say them to, and how rude each one is.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Te Quiero vs Te Amo: Saying "I Love You" in Spanish

Te quiero vs te amo, explained: te quiero is the warm, safe everyday I love you; te amo is deeper and more romantic. A relationship-by-relationship map.

June 3, 2026 6 min read