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B1 noun #12,000 most common 9 min read

comilla

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips comilla in 30 Seconds

Explanation comilla in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to worry about the complex rules of quotation marks. You should simply recognize that comillas are the marks used when someone is speaking in a book or when you see a word that looks special. You might see them used to highlight a specific word in a vocabulary list. At this stage, just remember that they are called 'comillas' and they usually come in pairs. You might notice that in Spanish, they look like little arrows « » or like the ones in English " ". If you are writing a basic sentence like 'He says "Hello"', you are already using them! Just remember the name: la comilla (singular) and las comillas (plural). It is one of the first punctuation words you will learn along with punto (period) and coma (comma).

At the A2 level, you begin to write short paragraphs and stories. You will start using comillas to show what people are saying in your writing. You should learn that in Spanish, the period goes after the closing mark, which is different from what you might do in English. For example: Mi madre dice "Estudia". You should also be able to recognize the three types of quotes even if you only use the English ones (" ") for now. You will see comillas used in simple reading exercises to highlight titles of songs or short stories. Understanding that entre comillas means 'in quotes' is helpful when your teacher gives you instructions for a writing task. You might also start to notice the 'air quotes' gesture used by Spanish speakers to indicate that they are using a word in a special or funny way.

At the B1 level, you are expected to have a more nuanced understanding of comillas. You should know that the official Spanish quotation marks are the angular ones (« »), often called comillas latinas. You should use these in more formal writing or when you are quoting a text in an essay. You also need to learn how to 'nest' quotes—if you have a quote inside another quote, you use « » for the outside and " " for the inside. This level also introduces the metaphorical use of entre comillas. When someone says 'Es un experto, entre comillas', they are expressing doubt about that person's expertise. You should be able to use the verb entrecomillar to describe the action of putting something in quotes. Your punctuation placement (putting the period outside the quotes) should be consistent at this level.

At the B2 level, your use of comillas should be professional and precise. You should understand the subtle difference between using quotes and using italics (cursiva). For instance, you use comillas for the title of an article but cursiva for the name of the newspaper. You should also be comfortable with the rare use of comillas simples (' ') for the third level of nesting or for providing the definition of a word within a sentence. You will encounter more complex literary texts where comillas are used to indicate a character's internal thoughts as opposed to spoken dialogue (which uses the raya). At this level, you should also be aware of regional preferences; for example, while the RAE prefers angular quotes, many Latin American publications use English-style quotes as their primary mark.

At the C1 level, you are mastering the stylistic nuances of Spanish punctuation. You understand that comillas can be used to indicate that a word is being used with a meaning different from its usual one, or that it belongs to a specific jargon. You are capable of reading and writing academic papers where the hierarchy of « ", ' ' » is strictly followed. You also understand the historical context—how the comilla evolved from the comma and how its usage has changed over time. You can identify when an author uses quotes to create a sense of irony or distance that is essential to the text's meaning. You are also aware of the technical aspects, such as how comillas interact with other marks like question marks or exclamation points when they are part of the quote versus part of the main sentence.

At the C2 level, you possess a native-like command of comillas. You can discuss the finer points of the Ortografía de la lengua española regarding punctuation. You know exactly how to handle complex cases, such as when a quote ends with an abbreviation or how to use quotes in linguistic analysis to denote meanings. You can critique the typographic choices in a published work, noting whether the use of English quotes instead of Latin ones is a stylistic choice or a technical limitation. You use comillas with absolute precision to convey tone, subtext, and academic rigor. You are also familiar with the use of quotes in different Spanish-speaking regions and can adapt your writing style accordingly, whether you are writing for a Spanish publisher or a Mexican digital platform.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

comilla in 30 Seconds

A punctuation mark used for quotes and irony.
Comes in three types: angular, double, and single.
Spanish rules put the period outside the closing mark.
The official RAE preference is for angular quotes (« »).

The Spanish word comilla refers to a quotation mark, a vital punctuation tool used across all forms of written Spanish to denote speech, highlight specific terms, or indicate irony. While English speakers are primarily accustomed to the double curly or straight quotes (" "), Spanish orthography recognizes a hierarchy of three distinct types: the angular or Latin quotes (comillas angulares or latinas: « »), the double or English quotes (comillas inglesas: " "), and the single quotes (comillas simples: ' '). Understanding the comilla is not merely about identifying a symbol but about mastering the visual architecture of Spanish narrative and academic discourse.

Primary Usage: In professional publishing and formal literature following the Real Academia Española (RAE) standards, the angular quotes « » are the preferred choice for the first level of quotation. If a quotation exists within another quotation, the double English quotes are used, and for a third level, single quotes are employed.

El profesor dijo: «Leed el capítulo titulado "La Regenta" para mañana».

Beyond literal speech, the comilla serves to distance the writer from a word, perhaps because it is being used ironically, it is a vulgarism, or it is a word from another language that has not been adapted into Spanish. This nuance is crucial for B1 learners who are beginning to read more complex texts where tone and subtext are conveyed through these subtle typographic cues.

The Concept of 'Entrecomillar': Spanish uses the verb entrecomillar to describe the action of putting something in quotes. You will often hear teachers say "entrecomillen las citas textuales" (put the direct quotes in quotation marks).

¿Por qué pusiste esa palabra entre comillas? ¿Es un sarcasmo?

In conversational Spanish, people also use the phrase "entre comillas" to mean "so to speak" or "in a manner of speaking," often accompanied by the universal gesture of "air quotes" with the fingers. This demonstrates how a technical punctuation term has permeated everyday spoken language to express skepticism or qualification of a statement.

Visual Hierarchy: 1. Comillas angulares (« ») - Standard. 2. Comillas inglesas (" ") - Nested. 3. Comillas simples (' ') - Deeply nested or for definitions.

Ella dijo: «Él me gritó '¡Basta!' y se fue».

Using comilla correctly requires an understanding of both the noun itself and the punctuation marks it represents. In Spanish, we usually refer to them in the plural, las comillas, because they almost always come in pairs. When you are writing a sentence about punctuation, you treat it like any other common noun.

Descriptive Usage: You use the word when explaining the structure of a text or asking for clarification on punctuation rules. It is a feminine noun: una comilla, las comillas.

Me falta una comilla de cierre en este párrafo.

When you want to indicate that a specific word should be emphasized or is being used ironically, you use the phrase entre comillas. This functions as an adverbial phrase. For example, if you say someone is a "genius" but you mean they are actually quite foolish, you would say the word is entre comillas.

Su supuesto "éxito" fue solo una coincidencia.

Technical Instructions: In a computer programming or data entry context, you might need to specify the type of quote. You would say comillas simples for ' ' and comillas dobles for " ".

En Python, puedes usar comillas simples o dobles para las cadenas de texto.

In literary analysis, you will frequently use the verb abrir (to open) and cerrar (to close) with comillas. This describes the physical placement of the marks at the start and end of a quote. This is a very common way to discuss text during Spanish language arts classes.

Recuerda cerrar las comillas después de la cita del autor.

Placement Rules: Unlike English (US), where commas and periods typically go inside the quotes, in Spanish, they always go outside. Example: «Hola». (Spanish) vs. "Hello." (English).

The word comilla is most frequently heard in educational, professional, and literary environments. However, its metaphorical use makes it common in everyday speech as well. If you are in a Spanish-speaking classroom, the teacher will constantly use this word when directing students on how to format their essays or cite sources.

In the Classroom: Teachers use it to enforce orthographic rules. You'll hear: "Pongan el título del poema entre comillas" (Put the title of the poem in quotes). It is a fundamental part of the academic vocabulary.

«¿Lleva comillas esta frase?» preguntó el estudiante.

In the world of journalism and media, comillas are discussed when talking about "declaraciones" (statements). A journalist might say, "Tenemos las comillas exactas del ministro," meaning they have the direct, verbatim quotes. Here, the word becomes synonymous with the content of the quote itself.

In Daily Conversation: People use the phrase "entre comillas" to express doubt. If someone says, "Es un trabajo 'fácil', entre comillas," they are warning you that it might actually be difficult or that the word 'easy' is an oversimplification.

Dijo que vendría pronto, pero ese «pronto» va entre comillas.

In legal and administrative contexts, the precision of comillas is paramount. When a lawyer reads a contract, they might point out a specific term that is entrecomillado (put in quotes) to indicate that its definition is specific to that document and not the general usage.

Digital and Tech: When talking about search engines, you might hear: "Busca la frase entre comillas para encontrar resultados exactos" (Search the phrase in quotes to find exact results).

The most frequent mistake English speakers make when using comillas in Spanish is applying English punctuation rules to Spanish text. While the symbols look similar, the logic governing their placement and hierarchy differs significantly between the two languages.

Mistake #1: Punctuation Placement: In American English, periods and commas almost always go inside the quotes. In Spanish, this is a major error. The period, comma, or semicolon must always follow the closing quote mark.

Incorrecto: Dijo "Hola."
Correcto: Dijo "Hola".

Another common error is using the wrong type of comilla for formal writing. While double quotes (" ") are acceptable in informal contexts, academic and literary Spanish strongly prefers the angular quotes (« »). Using only English quotes in a formal essay might be seen as a sign of English interference (anglicismo ortográfico).

Mistake #2: Forgetting the Opening Mark: Just like with question marks (¿ ?) and exclamation points (¡ !), Spanish requires both an opening and a closing comilla. English speakers often forget the opening one, especially when using angular quotes.

Recuerda: «Esto es una cita».

Finally, learners often over-use comillas for emphasis. In Spanish, if you want to emphasize a word, it is better to use italics (cursiva). Using quotes for emphasis can make the text look like it's full of sarcasm or irony, which might not be the intended message.

Mistake #3: Nested Quote Order: Learners often mix the order. The correct hierarchy is: 1. « » (Angular) -> 2. " " (Double) -> 3. ' ' (Single). Don't start with " " if you plan to follow RAE standards.

While comilla is the specific term for quotation marks, there are several related punctuation marks and terms that learners should distinguish to improve their written Spanish. Understanding these differences helps in selecting the right tool for the right context.

Comilla vs. Raya (Dash): In Spanish literature, dialogue is more commonly introduced by a long dash (—), called a raya, rather than quotation marks. Comillas are typically reserved for quoting text from another source or for short thoughts within a narrative.

—Hola —dijo él. (Dialogue dash)
Él dijo: «Hola». (Quotation marks)

Another related term is cursiva (italics). As mentioned in the mistakes section, cursiva is the preferred way to highlight foreign words or titles of books and movies in Spanish, whereas comillas are used for shorter works like poems, articles, or chapters.

Comilla vs. Apóstrofo: The apóstrofo (') is used very rarely in Spanish, usually to indicate omitted letters in archaic text or poetry. It is often confused with the comilla simple (' '), which is used for nested quotes or defining the meaning of a word.

La palabra «comilla» viene de 'pequeña coma'.

In some contexts, you might use paréntesis (parentheses) to add extra information, but comillas are strictly for attributing words to a source or indicating a special use of a term. If you are citing a source in a bibliography, you will use both: comillas for the article title and cursiva for the journal name.

Comparison Table: Comillas: Quotes, irony, titles of short works.
Raya: Dialogue in stories.
Cursiva: Foreign words, book titles, emphasis.
Paréntesis: Clarifications, dates, side notes.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Child friendly

Slang

Fun Fact

The name exists because early versions of quotation marks looked like small commas placed high above the text line.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /kɒˈmiːjə/

US /koʊˈmiːjə/

The stress is on the second syllable: co-MI-lla.

Rhymes With

sencilla mejilla pastilla mantequilla silla bombilla semilla maravilla

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'll' like an English 'l'. It should be a 'y' sound (or 'sh'/'zh' in some regions).
Confusing it with 'comida' (food).
Putting the stress on the first syllable.
Pronouncing it as 'co-mi-la' with a short 'i'.
Forgetting the feminine 'a' ending.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in text as punctuation.

Writing 4/5

Difficult to remember Spanish punctuation placement rules.

Speaking 3/5

Used metaphorically in conversation quite often.

Listening 2/5

Clear pronunciation and distinct from most words.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

coma punto palabra escribir cita

Learn Next

paréntesis corchetes raya guion cursiva

Advanced

diacrítico ortografía tipografía metalingüístico neologismo

Grammar to Know

Punctuation placement

Dijo: «No voy». (The period is outside)

Hierarchy of quotes

«Dijo "hola"» (Angular outside, double inside)

Quotes for irony

Su «limpio» coche estaba lleno de barro.

Quotes for short titles

Leí el artículo «El Clima» en el diario.

Quotes with question marks

«¿Vienes?», me preguntó. (Comma after the quote)

Examples by Level

La palabra está entre comillas.

The word is in quotes.

Uses 'entre' + 'comillas' to show location.

Puse una comilla aquí.

I put a quotation mark here.

Singular 'comilla' refers to one of the marks.

Él dice "hola".

He says 'hello'.

Basic quote usage.

¿Dónde están las comillas?

Where are the quotation marks?

Plural noun with definite article.

Usa las comillas dobles.

Use double quotes.

Adjective 'dobles' modifying 'comillas'.

La frase tiene comillas.

The sentence has quotes.

Direct object usage.

No olvides la comilla.

Don't forget the quote mark.

Imperative negative.

Esas comillas son grandes.

Those quotes are big.

Demonstrative adjective 'esas'.

Tienes que cerrar las comillas.

You have to close the quotes.

Verb phrase 'tener que' + infinitive 'cerrar'.

El título va entre comillas.

The title goes in quotes.

Verb 'ir' used to describe placement.

Ella escribió su nombre entre comillas.

She wrote her name in quotes.

Preterite tense usage.

Las comillas son importantes para citar.

Quotes are important for quoting.

Infinitive 'citar' as a purpose.

No veo las comillas en el teclado.

I don't see the quotes on the keyboard.

Negative sentence with 'ver'.

Copia el texto con las comillas.

Copy the text with the quotes.

Imperative 'copia'.

Las comillas inglesas son comunes.

English quotes are common.

Adjective 'inglesas'.

Me gustan estas comillas latinas.

I like these Latin quotes.

Verb 'gustar' with plural subject.

El autor usa las comillas para mostrar ironía.

The author uses quotes to show irony.

Purpose clause with 'para'.

Si citas a alguien, usa comillas angulares.

If you quote someone, use angular quotes.

Conditional sentence.

Es un político honesto, entre comillas.

He's an honest politician, 'so to speak'.

Idiomatic use of 'entre comillas'.

Debes poner el punto fuera de las comillas.

You must put the period outside the quotes.

Preposition 'fuera de'.

Entrecomilla las palabras que no son españolas.

Put quotes around the words that are not Spanish.

Verb 'entrecomillar' in imperative.

Las comillas simples se usan dentro de las dobles.

Single quotes are used inside double ones.

Passive 'se usan'.

Él siempre habla con comillas imaginarias.

He always speaks with imaginary quotes.

Adjective 'imaginarias'.

La RAE prefiere las comillas latinas.

The RAE prefers Latin quotes.

Present tense with collective noun subject.

La jerarquía de las comillas es fundamental en la edición.

The hierarchy of quotes is fundamental in editing.

Noun phrase as subject.

Asegúrate de que las comillas de apertura y cierre coincidan.

Make sure the opening and closing quotes match.

Subjunctive after 'asegurarse de que'.

Se recomienda el uso de comillas para términos técnicos.

The use of quotes for technical terms is recommended.

Impersonal 'se'.

El texto está lleno de comillas innecesarias.

The text is full of unnecessary quotes.

Adjective 'lleno de'.

Las comillas pueden cambiar el sentido de una frase.

Quotes can change the meaning of a sentence.

Modal verb 'poder'.

En este contexto, las comillas indican sarcasmo.

In this context, the quotes indicate sarcasm.

Present tense verb 'indicar'.

Muchos teclados no incluyen la comilla angular.

Many keyboards do not include the angular quote.

Negative present tense.

El uso de la comilla simple es muy específico.

The use of the single quote is very specific.

Singular subject with adjective agreement.

La puntuación siempre se coloca tras las comillas de cierre.

Punctuation is always placed after the closing quotes.

Adverb 'tras' meaning 'after'.

El autor utiliza las comillas para distanciarse del discurso ajeno.

The author uses quotes to distance himself from someone else's discourse.

Reflexive verb 'distanciarse'.

Es imperativo seguir la norma académica sobre las comillas.

It is imperative to follow the academic rule on quotes.

Impersonal construction 'es imperativo'.

Las comillas latinas aportan un aire de elegancia al texto.

Latin quotes provide an air of elegance to the text.

Verb 'aportar'.

No confundas el apóstrofo con la comilla simple.

Don't confuse the apostrophe with the single quote.

Negative imperative 'no confundas'.

La cita fue entrecomillada para evitar el plagio.

The quote was put in quotation marks to avoid plagiarism.

Passive voice with 'ser' + past participle.

El uso excesivo de comillas denota una falta de estilo.

Excessive use of quotes denotes a lack of style.

Verb 'denotar'.

Las comillas de seguimiento ya no se usan en la prensa moderna.

Continuation quotes are no longer used in modern press.

Adverbial phrase 'ya no'.

La evolución diacrónica de la comilla revela su origen en la glosa.

The diachronic evolution of the quote mark reveals its origin in the gloss.

Complex noun phrase 'evolución diacrónica'.

La normativa vigente prescribe las comillas angulares como opción preferente.

Current regulations prescribe angular quotes as the preferred option.

Verb 'prescribir'.

La sutileza de las comillas en la prosa de Borges es magistral.

The subtlety of the quotes in Borges's prose is masterful.

Abstract noun 'sutileza'.

Se debate la pertinencia de las comillas en la transcripción de diálogos orales.

The relevance of quotes in the transcription of oral dialogues is debated.

Passive reflexive 'se debate'.

El transvase de normas anglosajonas ha popularizado la comilla doble.

The transfer of Anglo-Saxon norms has popularized the double quote.

Compound past tense 'ha popularizado'.

La puntuación exógena a las comillas es un rasgo distintivo del español.

Punctuation external to the quotes is a distinctive feature of Spanish.

Adjective 'exógena'.

El entrecomillado puede servir para señalar un neologismo.

Quoting can serve to point out a neologism.

Noun 'entrecomillado' derived from verb.

Las comillas simples delimitan el significado literal de un término.

Single quotes delimit the literal meaning of a term.

Verb 'delimitar'.

Common Collocations

abrir comillas

cerrar comillas

entre comillas

comillas dobles

comillas simples

comillas angulares

poner entre comillas

quitar las comillas

uso de comillas

tecla de comillas

Common Phrases

entre comillas

— In quotes, or metaphorically 'so to speak'.

Es un experto, entre comillas.

abrir y cerrar comillas

— To quote someone completely.

Abro y cierro comillas para citar al jefe.

poner algo entre comillas

— To express doubt about something.

Yo pondría su honestidad entre comillas.

cita entre comillas

— A direct quotation.

Incluyó una cita entre comillas en el informe.

comillas de aire

— The gesture of making quotes with fingers.

Hizo comillas de aire cuando dijo 'amiga'.

sin comillas

— Without quotes, or literally/plainly.

Dímelo sin comillas, ¿qué piensas?

bajo comillas

— Under quotation (less common than 'entre').

El texto aparece bajo comillas.

comillas tipográficas

— Proper curly or angular quotes (as opposed to straight ones).

Usa comillas tipográficas para el libro.

comillas de cierre

— The closing quotation mark.

Te falta la comilla de cierre.

comillas de apertura

— The opening quotation mark.

La comilla de apertura está al revés.

Often Confused With

comilla vs coma

A comma (,) used for pauses, not quotes.

comilla vs apóstrofo

A single mark (') used for contractions, rare in Spanish.

comilla vs corchetes

Brackets ([ ]) used for editorial changes in quotes.

Idioms & Expressions

"ser un '...' entre comillas"

— To not really be what you are called.

Es un 'líder' entre comillas.

informal

"hablar entre comillas"

— To speak with a lot of irony or caveats.

Él siempre habla entre comillas, nunca es directo.

neutral

"poner en comillas"

— To question the validity of something.

Pusieron sus resultados en comillas.

neutral

"abrir comillas (gesto)"

— Signaling the start of a sarcastic comment.

Abrió comillas con los dedos y se rió.

informal

"cerrar comillas (gesto)"

— Signaling the end of a sarcastic comment.

Y cerró comillas con un suspiro.

informal

"un éxito entre comillas"

— A very questionable success.

Fue un éxito entre comillas porque perdieron dinero.

neutral

"amigos entre comillas"

— People who are not truly friends.

Somos amigos entre comillas, solo nos vemos en el trabajo.

informal

"verdad entre comillas"

— Something that is only partially true or biased.

Esa es una verdad entre comillas.

neutral

"justicia entre comillas"

— A situation perceived as unfair despite being legal.

Eso fue justicia entre comillas.

neutral

"libertad entre comillas"

— Limited or restricted freedom.

Vivían en una libertad entre comillas.

neutral

Easily Confused

comilla vs comilla

Sounds like 'comida'.

Comilla is a quote; comida is food.

Escribe una comilla / Come la comida.

comilla vs comilla

Sounds like 'camilla'.

Comilla is a quote; camilla is a stretcher/stroll.

La palabra lleva comilla / El paciente está en la camilla.

comilla vs comilla

Sounds like 'semilla'.

Comilla is a quote; semilla is a seed.

Puse una comilla / Planté una semilla.

comilla vs comilla

Sounds like 'mejilla'.

Comilla is a quote; mejilla is a cheek.

La comilla de cierre / Me besó en la mejilla.

comilla vs comilla

Sounds like 'sencilla'.

Comilla is a noun; sencilla is an adjective (simple).

Usa la comilla / Es una tarea sencilla.

Sentence Patterns

La palabra [X] tiene comillas.

La palabra 'casa' tiene comillas.

Pone [X] entre comillas.

Pone el título entre comillas.

Es un [X], entre comillas.

Es un genio, entre comillas.

Usa las comillas para [verb].

Usa las comillas para citar.

El autor entrecomilla la palabra [X].

El autor entrecomilla la palabra libertad.

Las comillas denotan [noun].

Las comillas denotan un uso irónico.

La prescripción de las comillas [verb].

La prescripción de las comillas latinas es clara.

Subyace un uso de comillas en [context].

Subyace un uso de comillas en toda la obra.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Very common in both writing and metaphorical speech.

Common Mistakes

Punctuation inside quotes. → Punctuation outside quotes.
English: "Hi." Spanish: «Hola».
Using quotes for book titles. → Using italics for book titles.
In Spanish, book titles are italicized, not quoted.
Forgetting the opening quote. → Using both opening and closing quotes.
Like question marks, quotes must be opened and closed.
Using " " as the only option. → Using « » for formal text.
Angular quotes are the academic standard in Spanish.
Confusing 'comilla' with 'coma'. → Using 'comilla' for quotes.
A 'coma' is a pause mark, a 'comilla' is a quote mark.

Tips

Period Outside

Always remember to place the period AFTER the closing quote in Spanish. This is the #1 mistake for English speakers.

Go Angular

Use « » in your formal essays to impress your Spanish professors. It shows high linguistic awareness.

Entrecomillar

Learn the verb 'entrecomillar'. It's much more elegant than saying 'poner entre comillas'.

Sarcasm Alert

Use the phrase 'entre comillas' at the end of a sentence to show you're being sarcastic.

Keyboard Shortcuts

On a Mac, Alt+Shift+V/B gives you « and ». On Windows, use Alt+174 and Alt+175.

Hierarchy Check

When reading complex texts, look for the order « " ' ' " ». It helps you track who is quoting whom.

No Comma Inside

Just like the period, commas also go outside the closing quote.

Regional Differences

Don't be surprised if you see " " in Mexican or American Spanish media; it's very common due to proximity to the US.

Little Comma

Remember: Comilla is a 'Little Comma' that lives at the top of the line.

Titles

Avoid putting movie or book titles in quotes in Spanish; use italics (cursiva) instead.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'comma' (coma) that is 'little' (-illa) and flies to the top of the sentence to catch a quote.

Visual Association

Imagine two little commas (« ») acting like a pair of hands holding a word.

Word Web

Puntuación Cita Texto Escritura Libro Diálogo Ironía RAE

Challenge

Write three sentences using different types of quotes and name each type correctly in Spanish.

Word Origin

Derived from the Spanish word 'coma' (comma), which comes from Latin 'comma' and Greek 'komma' (a piece cut off).

Original meaning: A 'little comma'. The suffix '-illa' is a diminutive in Spanish.

Romance (Latin root).

Cultural Context

Be careful using comillas for irony with sensitive topics; it can come across as mockery.

English speakers must unlearn the rule of putting periods inside quotes when writing in Spanish.

The RAE's 'Ortografía de la lengua española' is the ultimate authority on comillas. Borges often used quotes to create metaphysical doubt in his stories. Don Quijote editions often use the 'raya' for dialogue, reserving 'comillas' for internal quotes.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Academic Writing

Citar textualmente
Referencia bibliográfica
Según el autor
Texto entrecomillado

Digital Communication

Comillas dobles
Copiar y pegar
Buscar frase exacta
Símbolo de comillas

Literature Class

Voz del narrador
Pensamiento del personaje
Título del capítulo
Análisis de puntuación

Legal Documents

Término definido
Cláusula específica
Cita de la ley
Interpretación literal

Sarcastic Conversation

Entre comillas
Por así decirlo
Supuestamente
Si se puede llamar así

Conversation Starters

"¿Sabes cómo se ponen las comillas angulares en este teclado?"

"¿Crees que usamos demasiadas comillas cuando hablamos?"

"¿Por qué pusiste esa palabra entre comillas en tu mensaje?"

"¿Cuál es la diferencia entre comillas simples y dobles?"

"¿Te molesta cuando la gente hace el gesto de las comillas con los dedos?"

Journal Prompts

Escribe sobre una vez que alguien te dijo algo 'entre comillas' y qué significaba realmente.

Describe la importancia de las comillas en un ensayo académico.

¿Prefieres las comillas latinas « » o las inglesas " "? ¿Por qué?

Inventa un diálogo corto usando comillas para los pensamientos y rayas para el habla.

Reflexiona sobre cómo un par de comillas puede cambiar totalmente el sentido de una frase.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Según la RAE, las comillas preferibles son las angulares o latinas (« »). Las inglesas (" ") y las simples (' ') se usan para niveles internos de citación.

En español, el punto siempre va después de las comillas de cierre. Ejemplo: «Hola».

Se usan para enmarcar el significado de una palabra o cuando hay una cita dentro de otra cita que ya está dentro de una cita.

No, por lo general se usa la letra cursiva para títulos de libros. Las comillas se reservan para capítulos o artículos.

Significa 'supuestamente' o indica que el hablante no está de acuerdo con el término que está usando.

Se dice 'comillas de aire' o simplemente se describe el gesto como 'hacer comillas con los dedos'.

No es obligatorio en el uso informal, pero es la norma recomendada para textos impresos y formales.

Se puede, pero en español es preferible usar cursiva para el énfasis. Las comillas suelen sugerir ironía.

Se llaman comillas angulares, latinas o españolas.

Normalmente no. La raya (—) se usa para el diálogo y las comillas para citas o pensamientos.