paja
straw
The Spanish word 'paja' translates to 'straw' in English. This term typically refers to dry stalks of cereals plants after the grain and chaff have been removed. Straw is typically used for feeding animals, bedding for animals, and in other agricultural applications. In some contexts, 'paja' may also be used in reference to doing something meaningless or worthless, often likening the activity to finding a needle in a haystack. This use is, however, highly dependent on context and regional variations of Spanish.
Example sentences using: paja
Esta paja es muy seca.
This straw is very dry.
In this context, 'paja' is used to refer to dried stalks of grain plants, often used as bedding for animals, for thatching or for packing. The adjetive 'seca' (dry) describes the state of the straw.
Me voy a dormir, estoy hecho paja.
I'm going to sleep, I'm beat.
Here, the term 'paja' is used in colloquial speech in some countries to mean extremely tired or exhausted. The phrase 'estoy hecho paja' translates directly to 'I am made straw', a cultural idiom roughly equivalent to the English 'I'm beat' or 'I'm wiped out'.
¡No hables tantas pajas!
Stop talking nonsense!
In this example, 'pajas' is used in a colloquial context to refer to nonsense or pointless talk. The phrase 'No hables tantas pajas' translates directly to 'Don't talk so much straw', but is understood as 'stop talking nonsense'.