trapo

rag

noun TRAH-poh Rare

Also means

cloth

Usage Note

Trapo is a worn or rough piece of cloth used for cleaning or wiping. Poner a alguien como un trapo means to tear someone apart verbally. In bullfighting, el trapo informally refers to the muleta (the red cloth), and sacar los trapos sucios is the idiom for airing one's dirty laundry.

Examples

"Limpié el polvo con un trapo húmedo."

Natural Translation

I wiped the dust with a damp rag.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Spanish Subjunctive Explained Simply for Beginners

The Spanish subjunctive is a mood, not a tense — use it after a WEIRDO trigger plus que. Learn the one rule, the yo-form recipe, and the lines you already say.

June 9, 2026 5 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

How to Memorize Spanish Vocabulary Fast (That Sticks)

Memorize Spanish vocabulary fast with a 15-minute daily loop: spaced repetition, frequency-first words, and example-sentence cards that actually stick.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Tener in Spanish: Why You're Hungry, Cold & 30 Years

In Spanish you HAVE hunger, cold, and 30 years — not are them. Master tener expressions like tengo hambre, tengo frío, and tengo 30 años in one rule.

June 9, 2026 5 min read