teja
Lemma Details
Translation: roof tile; tile; shingle
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Latin 'tegula', meaning 'roof tile', which derives from the verb 'tegere' meaning 'to cover'. This Latin root also gave us English words like 'protect' (to cover from danger), 'detect' (to uncover), and 'tegument' (a natural covering or coat). The evolution from 'tegula' to 'teja' shows a typical Spanish phonological development where the intervocalic 'g' was lost.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'teja' as what protects you like a 'tech jacket' against rain.
- The word sounds a bit like 'tech', and tiles are a technology for keeping homes dry.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
Terracotta roof tiles are a distinctive feature of traditional Spanish architecture, giving the characteristic reddish-orange color to rooftops across Spain and Latin America. The curved shape of Spanish tiles (teja árabe) is particularly iconic and has been exported to many parts of the world as a design element.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Teja' means 'roof tile' while 'ceja' means 'eyebrow'. They differ by just one letter but have completely different meanings.
Notes: The pronunciation is also slightly different: 'teja' is pronounced [ˈte.xa] while 'ceja' is [ˈθe.xa] in Spain or [ˈse.xa] in Latin America.
Mnemonic: Think: 'C' for 'ceja' is shaped like an eyebrow, while 'T' for 'teja' is shaped like the edge of a tile.
Explanation: 'Teja' means 'roof tile' while 'tela' means 'fabric' or 'cloth'. They sound very similar but have different meanings.
Confused word:
Esta tela es perfecta para hacer cortinas.
This fabric is perfect for making curtains.
Notes: The 'j' in 'teja' is pronounced as a guttural sound [x], while the 'l' in 'tela' is a softer sound.
Mnemonic: Remember: 'teja' with 'j' is hard like a tile, while 'tela' with 'l' is soft like fabric.