In Spanish, “string” is usually cuerda for cord, hilo for thread, and cadena for a text string or code.
“String” looks simple in English, but it carries a few meanings. Spanish doesn’t use one word for all of them. When you match the meaning, your Spanish sounds clean and your listener gets it right away.
This article shows the Spanish choices for “string,” how to pick the right one, and short phrases you can borrow. You’ll see both daily uses and the tech meaning you’ll meet in coding or app menus.
Why “String” Has More Than One Spanish Match
English uses “string” for a thin cord, a sewing thread, the strings on an instrument, and a line of characters on a screen. Spanish splits those ideas into separate words. That split is handy once you get used to it.
Start by asking one small question: what kind of “string” do you mean? Is it something you can hold, something you can sew with, something on a guitar, or a chunk of text?
How to Say ‘String’ in Spanish In Daily Speech
If you’re talking about a physical string, you’ll reach for cuerda, hilo, or a close cousin like cordel. If you mean a “string” of text, you’ll use cadena. Pick the meaning first, then the word.
Cuerda For Cord Or Rope-Like String
Cuerda is the default for a sturdy string, cord, or rope. It’s the word you’ll hear for a jump rope, a clothesline, and the cord you pull to open blinds. If your “string” can tug, tie, or hold weight, cuerda fits well.
- Sample: Necesito una cuerda para atar la caja. (I need a string/cord to tie the box.)
- Sample: La cuerda está floja; apriétala un poco. (The cord is loose; tighten it a bit.)
Hilo For Thread Or Fine String
Hilo is thread: sewing thread, dental floss thread in some contexts, and any fine strand. If you’d use “thread” in English, hilo is often the best match. It can also name a thin string in crafts where “cord” feels too thick.
- Sample: Se me acabó el hilo blanco. (I ran out of white thread.)
- Sample: Corta el hilo y haz un nudo. (Cut the thread and tie a knot.)
Cadena For A Text String Or Code
In programming and tech Spanish, “string” is usually cadena (short for cadena de caracteres). You’ll see it in docs, settings, and error messages. If you’re talking about letters, numbers, or symbols stored as text, cadena is the right call.
- Sample: Ese campo guarda una cadena de texto. (That field stores a string of text.)
- Sample: Convierte la cadena a mayúsculas. (Convert the string to uppercase.)
Choice Check In Three Steps
When you’re stuck between options, run this short check:
- If it’s thick enough to tie a box or pull on, pick cuerda.
- If it’s for sewing, stitching, or a thin strand, pick hilo.
- If it’s text in code, pick cadena.
Saying ‘String’ In Spanish When Meaning Changes
Some uses sit between the big three. You’re still choosing based on meaning, but a different Spanish word may sound more natural. The trick is to name what the “string” is doing: tying, hanging, threading, or lining things up.
Cordel, Cordón, And Cinta For Specific “String” Uses
Cordel is a thin cord, often used for twine. Cordón is a lace or drawstring, like a shoelace or hoodie string. Cinta is ribbon or tape, so it can work for gift-wrapping “string” when it’s flat and decorative.
- Sample: Ata el paquete con cordel. (Tie the package with twine.)
- Sample: Se rompió el cordón del zapato. (The shoelace broke.)
- Sample: Puse una cinta roja en la caja. (I put a red ribbon on the box.)
Musical Strings And Instrument Talk
For instruments, cuerda names the string itself and the family of “string instruments.” If you’re talking about changing strings, Spanish often uses verbs built from cuerda. You’ll hear encordar for putting new strings on a guitar.
- Sample: Cambié las cuerdas de la guitarra. (I changed the guitar strings.)
- Sample: Voy a encordar la guitarra hoy. (I’m going to string the guitar today.)
A String Of Lights, Beads, Or Flags
English uses “string” in phrases like “a string of lights” or “a string of beads.” Spanish often names the object, then uses a linking phrase. For lights, you might hear guirnalda de luces or tira de luces depending on the style. For beads or pearls, hilo is common because it’s threaded.
- Sample: Colgué una guirnalda de luces en la pared. (I hung a string of lights on the wall.)
- Sample: Un hilo de perlas queda bien con ese vestido. (A string of pearls looks good with that dress.)
| Meaning Of “String” | Spanish Word | When It Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Sturdy cord for tying or pulling | cuerda | Knots, cords, ropes, lines you tug |
| Sewing thread or fine strand | hilo | Needles, stitching, thin strands |
| Twine for packages and crafts | cordel | Wrapping, tying parcels, craft twine |
| Shoelace or drawstring | cordón | Shoes, hoodies, bags with drawstrings |
| Ribbon or flat “string” decoration | cinta | Gift wrap, bows, flat strips |
| Guitar or violin string | cuerda | Musical strings and string sections |
| String of beads or pearls | hilo | Beads threaded on a strand |
| Text string in programming | cadena | Characters stored as text in code |
| A sequence or “string” of events | racha / serie | Runs, streaks, series in sports or news |
Racha And Serie When “String” Means A Run
Sometimes “string” doesn’t mean a cord at all. In phrases like “a string of wins” or “a string of bad luck,” Spanish usually uses racha (streak) or serie (series). These words sound natural in sports, games, and daily chat.
Use racha when the run keeps going without a break. Use serie when you’re naming a chain of events as a set.
- Sample: Llevamos una racha de tres victorias. (We’re on a three-win streak.)
- Sample: Fue una serie de errores pequeños. (It was a series of small mistakes.)
Verbs You’ll Need: String, Thread, Tie, And Hang
Sometimes the noun matters less than the action. English can say “string the beads” or “string the banner,” then rely on context. Spanish often chooses a verb that states the action with more detail.
Enhebrar And Ensartar For Threading
Enhebrar is “to thread,” as in threading a needle or putting thread through an eye. Ensartar is “to skewer” or “to string together,” used for beads, fruit pieces, or items lined up on a stick or string.
- Sample: No puedo enhebrar la aguja. (I can’t thread the needle.)
- Sample: Voy a ensartar las cuentas. (I’m going to string the beads.)
Atar And Colgar For Tying And Hanging
Atar means “to tie.” Use it with cuerda, cordel, or cordón. Colgar means “to hang,” handy for banners, lights, and decorations.
- Sample: Voy a atar la caja con cordel. (I’m going to tie the box with twine.)
- Sample: Vamos a colgar las banderitas. (We’re going to hang the little flags.)
Pronunciation Notes That Help You Say It Smoothly
Spanish spelling is steady, so a small set of habits gets you far. These short notes help with the words you’ll use most.
- cuerda: Two syllables start strong: “KWER-da.” The ue blends like “weh.”
- hilo: The h is silent. Say “EE-lo.”
- cadena: Stress lands on “DE”: “ka-DE-na.”
- cordón: The accent mark shows stress on “DON”: “kor-DON.”
Phrases You Can Reuse Without Guessing
These short patterns let you swap nouns and keep the sentence natural. Copy the structure, then drop in the word that matches your meaning.
- Necesito una… (I need a…)
- Se rompió el/la… (The … broke.)
- ¿Tienes…? (Do you have…?)
- Voy a… (I’m going to…)
| English Phrase | Natural Spanish | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tie it with string | átalo con cuerda / con cordel | Use cordel for twine, cuerda for thicker cord |
| a spool of thread | un carrete de hilo | Common sewing phrase |
| guitar string | cuerda de guitarra | Plural is common: cuerdas |
| string of pearls | hilo de perlas | Threaded items often use hilo |
| string lights | guirnalda de luces / tira de luces | Pick the term that matches the light style |
| string (in code) | cadena (de caracteres) | Tech Spanish standard term |
| a string of wins | una racha de victorias | racha is a streak or run |
| a string of events | una serie de sucesos | serie is a series or sequence |
Common Mix-Ups And How To Fix Them
The biggest mix-up is using cuerda for all uses. It works for a lot of physical “string,” but it sounds off for sewing thread and for text in code. Swap to hilo for thread and cadena for code, and your sentence snaps into place.
Another mix-up is using cadena when you mean a metal chain. Spanish uses cadena for both “chain” and “string” in code, so context matters. If you’re holding metal links, add detail: una cadena de metal.
Practice Drills That Build The Habit
Try these mini prompts out loud. Pause, pick the meaning, then say the Spanish word. If you can answer without pausing, you’ve got the habit.
- You need string to tie a box. → cuerda or cordel
- You need thread to fix a button. → hilo
- You changed the strings on a guitar. → cuerdas
- You stored a name as a string in a form. → cadena
- You hung a string of lights on the wall. → guirnalda de luces or tira de luces
If you’re writing, swap each option into the same sentence once. Your ear will tell you which meaning fits right away.
Self-Check Before You Say It
Right before you speak or write, run this checklist. It keeps you from defaulting to the wrong word when you’re in a rush.
- Can you tie, pull, or hang something with it? Use cuerda or cordel.
- Is it for sewing or a thin strand? Use hilo.
- Is it text stored in code or a field? Use cadena.
- Is it a lace on a shoe or hoodie? Use cordón.
- Is it a streak or run of events? Use racha or serie.
Once you link “string” to a meaning first, Spanish choices stop feeling random. You’ll start hearing the pattern in real speech, and you’ll choose cuerda, hilo, or cadena without second-guessing.