palillo

toothpick

noun pah-LEE-yoh Rare

Origin: Diminutive of palo (stick), from Latin palus.

Also means

drumstick

Usage Note

Palillo most commonly means a toothpick, found on restaurant tables throughout the Spanish-speaking world. In a musical context, palillos (plural) are drumsticks. In some regions it can also refer to chopsticks (palillos chinos), especially in Latin America. The diminutive suffix -illo signals smallness.

Examples

"Usó un palillo para limpiar sus dientes."

Natural Translation

He used a toothpick to clean his teeth.

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